By By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
PLYMOUTH — Williamston coach Asim McGill has had plenty of success during his four-year tenure with the Tigers, which included a trip to the state championship game last season, but on Friday the Tigers’ skipper led his team to a the program’s most recent signature win as it topped rival Plymouth 26-8 at Foster Field.
The victory was McGill’s first-ever over the Vikings, and the first time a Williamston team had beaten Plymouth since 2002.
After the game a joyous McGill took time to appreciate the moment.
“This is the biggest win since I have been a head coach at Williamston High School,” McGill said.
“We played in the state championship game, and to me this is better than that (experience). … Plymouth runs a great program, for us it kind of feels like when Virginia first beat Florida State in the ACC.”
The win was powered by a balanced offensive attack that was led by running back Cedric Moody who carried the ball 21 times for 132 yards and two TDs.
Moody scored the Tigers’ (6-2, 3-1) first and last touchdowns of the game as he ran from 11 and 7 yards out, respectively.
Plymouth ran the ball well throughout the game, amassing 254 rushing yards, but were plagued by turnovers. After quarterback Kevin Purkett scored on a 5-yard dash in the first, the Vikings were kept out of the end zone for the rest of the game.
The Vikings had four second-quarter possessions, and each ended poorly. Williamston cornerback Trevon Rogers made a great read on a Purkett pass and plucked it at the center of the field for the first of his two interceptions to end the first Plymouth drive.
The second was put to a halt after the Vikings lost a fumble, and their third possession was over before it even got started as they failed to field an onside kick.
“We lost the onside kick, fumbled and I think we turned the ball over a few times,” Cody said of the second quarter. “We were able to move the ball up and down the field, but when you turn the ball over that many times it just makes it too hard to win.”
The loss was the Vikings (5-3, 2-2) second straight, Cody could not remember the last time his team lost two in a row.
The Tigers took advantage of the fumble recovery and marched down field for a score. The drive ended with QB Luke Mathews finding Jermaine McGhee for an 11-yard score with 1:44 left before halftime.
McGill opted to onside kick after that, and the decision paid off as the Tigers recovered the ball at the Plymouth 36.
The play of the game took place on that drive as Williamston, facing a fourth-and-long at the 16, called a reverse. Moody took the ball and ran right, then handed it off to Kenny Brown who raced down the left sideline and dove across the goal line for a 16-yard TD. The score gave the Tigers momentum and an 18-8 lead at the break.
Williamston Plymouth
14 First Downs 19
37-185 Rushes-Yards 57-254
93 Passing Yards 7
7-16 Pass-Comp-Int 5-5-2
3-33 Punting 1-30
3-1 Fumbles-Lost 8-3
11-100 Penalties 6-75
Williamston 6 12 0 8 — 26
Plymouth 8 0 0 0 — 8
Scoring Summary
W — Cedric Moody 11 run (Moody kick failed), 10:16, 1st.
P — Kevin Purkett 5 run (Ronnell Blount two points), 1:55, 1st.
W — Jermaine McGhee11 pass from Luke Mathews (two points failed), 1:44 2nd.
W — Kenny Brown 17 run (kick failed) :17, 2nd.
W — Moody 7 run (Thurman Collier two points), 11:05 4th.