From Citizen-Times.com
By Andrew Pearson
November 10, 2007

ASHEVILLE  — Asheville High’s Giovanni McKnight never broke his concentration or stride Friday, scooping up a fumble that he took 38 yards for a touchdown.

Offensively, defensively and everywhere in between, the speedy junior put together a career night and the Cougars opened the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs by trouncing Tuscola, 42-7.

In addition to a fumble return made at defensive back, McKnight wreaked havoc on the Mountaineers secondary, hauling in three touchdown passes from Rahkeem Morgan.

"Giovanni just had a terrific game in a lot of ways tonight," Asheville coach Danny Wilkins said. "He's a great kid and I'm happy for him. The defense came though, our offensive line had a good game and I thought (Morgan) was solid once again."

Morgan has accounted for 30 touchdowns this season (20 passing, nine rushing and an interception return) and moved up to No. 2 among the Cougars' career passing leaders (2,743 yards) with a 164-yard performance Friday. Conceivably, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior will break the school record (2,760 yards) next week against fifth-seeded Statesville.

The Cougars (9-2) beat Tuscola, 39-7, during the regular season and Friday's game wasn't any more competitive. Asheville raced out to a 21-0 lead just 10 minutes in thanks to McKnight's fumble return, his first touchdown reception - a 15-yarder in the front edge of the end zone - and junior Greg Ray's 20-yard run up the gut of Tuscola's defense.

McKnight and Morgan later hooked up for touchdown receptions of 32 and 75 yards. McKnight came into Friday's game with only 314 yards and five touchdown receptions for the season. Ray scored a second touchdown, this time from 25 yards out, with 11:51 remaining in the third quarter.

"Before we knew it, we were down 14-0," Mountaineers coach Donnie Kiefer said. "We thought we could be competitive with them this time around, but we took ourselves out of it early."

The Mountaineers (5-7) took possession of the ball three times in the game's first 5 minutes and 13 seconds and had nothing to show for it but two turnovers and a punt.

On their second play from scrimmage, Cougars sophomore Darius Drummond stepped in front of Tyler Brosius' first pass, bringing it back to the Tuscola 32-yard line to set up Asheville's first scoring drive.

Drummond's fifth interception is the third-most in Asheville history for a single season. Clemson University sophomore Crezdon Butler holds the career record (10).

Tuscola's only touchdown came on a 50-yard bomb from Brosius to junior Sage Frady as time expired in the first quarter.