By Staff
Roy Jones, Enquirer Correspondent
GURLEY – Call it momentum or hard work or some of each or anything else, it all gets the message across – the Patriots are back. They picked up where they left off last season with a 28-7 win over Madison County Friday.
A visit to Coach Coleman's office before the team left for Madison County found more than a few cases of butterflies. The coach stated that this was normal on Fridays before a game.
He was also proud of the hard work his team and staff had put in getting ready for this game. In looking ahead for the season, he said they were taking it one game at a time since they played in one of the toughest conferences and one of the toughest regions in the state.
During the first series of downs the Tigers could not move the ball due to a swarming defense set up by the Patriots.
After forcing the Tigers to punt, they fell on a Pats fumble on the Pats 9-yard line. Going for a touchdown from the 1-yard line, the Tigers fumbled this time and the Pats recovered on their own 10.
On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Lucas Wilson handed off to Steven Thompson, who rambled for 16 big yards.
Mixing plays, players and keeping an eye on the clock, Coach Coleman directed his team to a score with 1:03 left in the first quarter. Wilson completed a short pass to Rodney Childs, who ran it in from the 11-yard line. Wesley Brasher kicked the extra point.
A second touchdown for the Pats came with 1:29 left in the second quarter when Travis Campbell ran it in from the 5-yard line and Brasher connected on the extra point.
The Patriots kept the momentum going in the second half.
With 8:50 left in the third quarter, Wilson handed off to Campbell on the 12-yard line who ran it in for the third score of the game. Brasher was also good on the PAT for the third time in this game.
With 2:53 left in the third quarter, the Tigers got on the scoreboard when Bentley Callahan ran it in from the 13-yard line. Jacob Hillis' PAT was successful.
The final score came about midway of the fourth quarter when Brewer's John Shivers recovered a fumble and ran it in for a touchdown.
Joseph Burton had a strong game for Brewer, running for 105 yards on 22 carries.
The Patriots welcome No. 2 Russellville to Florette Friday, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.