Scott Chadwick's first home game as Greenbrier's head coach couldn't have been scripted any better.
Chadwick's game plan surprised visiting rival Evans, and a last-second, game-winning touchdown shattered the Knights undefeated record and gave Greenbrier a 21-19 win.
"They ran the ball on us," Evans coach Marty Jackson said. "We didn't think they'd have the success they did up front."
Instead of relying on a passing game to set up the run like Greenbrier had attempted in its first three games, the Wolfpack came out running. The offensive change worked, and Greenbrier's ground game finished with 207 yards and three touchdowns.
"We ran the game plan to perfection," Chadwick said. "We knew they were going to try to stop the big pass, and I thought we could run the ball on them."
More specifically, Freddie Jones ran the ball on them.
The Greenbrier starting tailback rushed for 84 yards in the first quarter. By halftime his total was up to 129 yards, and he finished the game with 29 carries for 183 yards and a touchdown. The senior also caught five passes for 112 yards.
"I've got two former tailbacks that I've coached that are playing division one ball in the ACC. None of them had a finer night than Freddie did tonight," Chadwick said.
Despite Jones' 295 yards of total offense, Evans still managed a 19-15 lead with less than two minutes left in the game. The outlook for Greenbrier looked even worse when Evans safety Brandon McCladdie picked off a Nick Richards pass with 1:20 left in the game.
However, Chadwick still had all three of his time outs and a defense that held Evans to minus-15 yards in the fourth quarter. Greenbrier's defense held and the Knights were forced to punt. Greenbrier took over on its own 44-yard line with 52 seconds left.
That's when Jones came to the rescue again.
"Freddie got me out of every hole tonight," Richards said. "After I threw that interception he picked me up and saved the game."
After two incompletions, Jones caught a short pass from Richards and ran 35 yards into Evans' territory. A fourth-down pass to wide receiver Tyrone Bonds with 12 seconds left saw Bonds reach the 1-yard line for a first down. Richards gathered his offense just in time to spike the ball with 1.4 seconds remaining.
Richards' dive into the end zone on the next play gave Greenbrier its first lead since eight minutes left in the first quarter and ended the game.
"I can't describe it," Richards said. "It's the most emotional feeling I've ever had on a football field. This is how football is supposed to be played."
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 863-6165 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.
GREENBRIER 21, EVANS 19
PLAY OF THE GAME: With 1.4 seconds left in the game and Greenbrier trailing by four points, Wolfpack quarterback Nick Richards dove into the end zone from 1 yard out for the game-winning touchdown.
WHY GREENBRIER WON: In Evans coach Marty Jackson's words: "Greenbrier made the big plays at the end of the game." The Wolfpack drove 56 yards in the game's final 52 seconds for the last-second score.
WHY EVANS LOST: The Knights couldn't drive the ball in the fourth quarter. When Evans took possession with a four-point lead and 1:20 to play in the game, the Knights kept the ball for less than 30 seconds, giving Greenbrier one last chance.
STAR OF THE GAME: Greenbrier senior Freddie Jones burned Evans both on the ground and in the air. The starting tailback rushed for 183 yards and caught five passes for 112 yards.
WHAT'S NEXT: Evans will return home to face Effingham County next week. Greenbrier will stay at home to face Richmond Academy.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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