ELIZABETH CITY — Ayden-Grifton didn’t trail until the fourth quarter and neither team led by more than seven — in a game where 76 total points were scored — but the Chargers miracle run from 0-6 to conference champions ended in the third round of the NCHSAA 2A playoffs Friday night with a 41-35 loss to Elizabeth City Northeastern.
Trailing by six, the Chargers used their final two time outs to force the Eagles into a turnover on downs with 2:50 to play.
From their own 29-yard line, Ayden-Grifton’s Hunter Cannon looked to the pass — something the team hadn’t attempted until the fourth quarter — to help his team advance to the regional finals.
Two quick strikes to Jake Wright moved the ball into Eagle territory and faced with 3-and-8 from 46-yard line a roughing the passer call — on a would-be Eagle interception — gave the Chargers first down and an opportunity which seemed unlikely just two months ago.
“I’m really proud of the kids and their character to work hard and turn this season around,” AG coach Paul Cornwell said. “It’s hard to be disappointed in that.”
Cannon’s first attempt from 31 yards out was incomplete. As Wright, Cannon’s favorite target throughout the playoffs, lined up wide on the right side of the field, Eagles cornerback and Ge’Dari Liverman — who did a little bit of everything for Northeastern against the Chargers — visibly favored his left arm.
As the junior quarterback dropped back, the pocket collapsed and the Eagles picked up their first sack of the night.
Hurrying back to the line to clock the ball for one last play, an inadvertent whistle stopped the clock with 2.6 seconds remaining, just before Cannon snapped the ball. As he turned around to look at the official, who was already signaling the clock operator to start the timer, the horn sounded to end the game.
Ayden-Grifton and Northeastern combined to score 28 points in the first quarter and alternated scores until the Eagles pulled ahead by 7 with 9:58 remaining in the game. Each team punted only once.
Running back RJ Nelson had three touchdowns from eight, 17 and 27 yards out, and Drew Turnage added a 15-yard score. The duo combined to rush for 322 yards (Nelson 156, Turnage 166).
Quaymon Williams passed for 281 yards (18-28-2) throwing three touchdowns along the way.
Liverman caught five passes for a game-high 112 yards, including scores from 10- and the final go ahead touchdown from 63-yards out. He also went 3-3 passing for 38 yards, equaled that yardage rushing and had a 97-yard kickoff return to start the second half.
“I didn’t think we’d give up that many points,” Cornwell said. “Credit Northeastern’s offensive staff for having them ready play.”
Northeastern will host Southwest Onslow in the regional finals next week.
ELIZAVETH CITY NORTHEASTERN 41, AYDEN-GRIFTON 35
Ayden-Grifton 14 7 7 7—35
Northeastern 14 0 14 13—41
First Quarter
AG — RJ Nelson 17 run, Josh Walston kick. 10:43
ECN — Ge'Dari Liverman 10 pass from Quaymon Williams, Benedikt Svavarsson kick. 7:38
AG — Nelson 8 run, Walston kick. 7:07
ECN — Travis McWilliams 18 pass from Williams, Svavarsson kick. 5:15
Second Quarter
AG — Drew Turnage 15 run, Walston kick. 6:57
Third Quarter
ECN — Liverman 97 kickoff return, Svavarsson kick. 11:43
AG — Nelson 27 run, Walston kick. 11:29
ECN — William Simpson 4 run, Svavarsson kick. 2:46
Fourth Quarter
ECN — Clarence Jones 7 run, Svavarsson kick. 9:58
AG — Michael Baker 38 pass from Hunter Cannon, Walston kick. 4:37
ECN — Liverman 63 pass from Williams, conversion fail. 4:16
AG N
First downs 18 21
Rushes-yards 51-336 31-117
Passing 4-8-1 21-31-2
Passing yards 86 319
Total yards 422 436
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties 3-25 7-75
Punts-avg 1-14 1-28
Individual statistics
RUSHING — AG: Turnage 18-166, Nelson 26-156, Baker 2-5, Rashad Edwards 2-8, Cannon 3-1. N: Ladon Jordan 2-7, Jones 4-4, Jamar Johnson 5-8, Team 1-5, Williams 6-44, Liverman 6-38, William Simpson 7-11.
PASSING — AG: Cannon 4-8-1 86. N: Williams 18-28-2 281, Liverman 3-3-0 38.
RECEIVING — AG: Turnage 1-28, Baker 1-38, Jake Wright 2-20. N: Liverman 5-112, Trevor Overton 8-114, Travis McWilliams 7-72, Austin Williams 1-23.