GIBSONTON — It took 40 years, but East Bay got it right after winning its second district title in school history.
The Indians followed up their first district crown since 1973 with their first playoff win, 34-14 over Gaither on Friday.
East Bay now is 1-6 in the postseason.
“You made history. Give yourselves a hand,” Indians coach Frank LaRosa told his players afterward.
“It’s insane. I’m excited for the school. The school was electric (Friday).”
Trailing 14-7 at halftime, the Indians (8-3) outscored the Cowboys 27-0. Chris Greene got the scoring started with his second touchdown run of the game, a 15-yarder that tied the score at 14 after Eric Morgan’s extra point.
Green, who rushed for a game-high 166 yards on 29 carries, had a 5-yard touchdown run that tied it at 7 during the first quarter.
Quarterback Chris Carpentier had touchdown runs of 18 and 2 yards in the fourth quarter that enabled the Indians to go from a tie at 14 to a 27-14 lead. Deondre Romeo closed out the scoring with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone.
Gaither (5-6) scored on two of its first three possessions but was stymied by East Bay’s swarming defense after that. The Indians sacked Alex McGough three times, forced a fumble and stopped four fourth-down attempts by the Cowboys.
Gaither took the opening kickoff and marched 63 yards downfield in eight plays. Jeff Suarez finished the drive with a 7-yard scoring run.
After the Indians matched that by scoring the first time they had the ball (Green’s first touchdown), the Cowboys came right back to take a 14-7 lead on McGough’s 58-yard touchdown pass to Logan Young.
The Cowboys never got into the red zone again.