Rosewood falls to Ayden Grifton

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 12, 2006 2:02 AM

• Print
• Email

LITTLEFIELD -- Matt Dougherty threw three touchdown passes and Ayden-Grifton escaped Rosewood 20-13 on the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-AA (large-school) playoff scene Friday evening.

The seventh-seeded Chargers improved to 9-3 overall and travel to state-ranked East Carteret next Friday. The Mariners, 11-1 overall and rated No. 10 in the latest Associated Press poll, hammered Midway 61-7.

Rosewood, the No. 10 seed, concluded the year 6-6.

Dougherty completed touchdown strikes to Jamal Hardy, Jeremy Hardy and Keith Jones. He ended the night 8 of 14 for 108 yards and one interception.

J.D. Strickland paced Ayden-Grifton's ground game with 73 yards on 17 carries.

Rosewood quarterback Josh Myers rushed for a touchdown and threw a 39-yard scoring strike to Stephen McIntyre late in the fourth quarter. Myers finished with 149 yards on of 8 of 16 passing with one interception.

Ayden-Grifton fumbled after McIntyre's score. Myers threw two incompletions and got sacked for a 10-yard loss on third down. Rosewood turned the ball over on downs and the Chargers ran out the clock.

The Eagles committed four turnovers with two leading to Ayden-Grifton touchdowns.