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SPORTS

Page 28, Westover 10

Friday, November 21, 2008
(Updated 11:37 pm)

GREENSBORO - A little momentum can go a long way in the playoffs.

Page proved that in a 28-10, 4-A West second-round triumph over Fayetteville Westover Friday night. The Pirates scored 14 quick points in the first quarter and then let their defense do most of the rest to advance.

The Pirates will play at home again Friday against Fayetteville Seventy-First, a 14-0 upset winner over Mount Tabor.

"We talked to our kids all week that this team (Westover) was better than their record," said Page coach Kevin Gillespie. "They are going to come out and try to stuff the ball down our throats. We can't back down. We told them that we've got to be the ones to set the tone and let them know that it is going to be 48 minutes of smash-mouth football."

Page took the opening kickoff and advanced down the field with very little resistance from Westover.

Running back Lenny Gordan did most of the damage, carrying six times for 32 yards. He finished the drive with a 5-yard run, giving the Pirates a 7-0 lead with 6:45 to play in the first quarter.

A quick three-and-out and a short punt by the Wolverines gave Page excellent field position and the Pirates took advantage of it. A 23-yard pass from quarterback Will Newman to Brad Workinger got the Pirates in the red zone and Newman ran it in from 15 yards out, making the score 14-0 with 3:28 to play.

What may have been most impressive about the first two drives was the fact that Page was working with a patchwork offensive line. Sophmore starting lineman Will Fox went down with an ankle injury in practice this week, forcing Aaron Ganoe and Darius Barnhardt to step in and share the duties. Although both had played in games during the season, Gillespie was impressed with the way they responded.

"The whole line did a good job, but those two guys (Ganoe and Barnhardt) deserve a lot of credit," Gillespie said.

Page had a chance to increase its lead after a Westover fumble was recovered. But the Pirates' drive stalled and a 31-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.

In the second quarter, the defense came up with another turnover, this time an interception by Alonzo Campbell. But the offense couldn't capitalize.

The Wolverines finally got on the board just before halftime when a 52-yard run by Christian Russell set up a 32-yard field goal by Michael Atobrah, making the score 14-3 at the break.

Newman added to the lead in the third quarter when he faked a handoff, went up the middle and cut left to the sideline for a 74-yard touchdown run. He had another touchdown run, this time from 25-yards out later in the third quarter, to close out the scoring.

"We stood here four or five weeks ago after a heartbreaking lose to East Forsyth. If you would have told me then we would be playing a home game in the third round of the playoffs, I would have said no way," Gillespie said. "But these kids have really come together. We've got our work cut out for us. We aren't just glad to be here. We want to keep playing. If Seventy-First beats us, they are going to have to take our best shot."

  Westover Page
First downs 7 13
Rushes-yards 28-129 43-303
Passing yards 75 61
Comp-Att-Int 5-12-1 5-12-0
Punts-average 6-37.1 2-29.0
Fumbles-lost 4-2 2-1
Penalties-yards 2-20 7-40

Westover 0 3 0 7 - 10
Page 14 0 14 0 - 28

P - Lenny Gordan 5 run (Matt Millisor kick)

P - Will Newman 15 run (Millisor kick)

W - Michael Atobrah 32 field goal)

P - Newman 75 run (Millisor kick)

P - Newman 25 run (Millisor kick)

W - Demarcus Northe 16 pass from Raimon Johnson (Atobrah kick)

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