Pattonsburg scores early and often in a 74-42 win over North Andrew

on

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

Sponsored by


After winning just one game last season, the Pattonsburg Panthers surpassed that win total in their second game of the season.  They were looking to go 3-0 when the North Andrew Cardinals came to town for a GRC West Matchup.

It didn't take long for the Panthers to get on the scoreboard.  They were facing a 4th and 1 from the Cardinals' 34-yard line when Wyatt Maize escaped for a 46-yard touchdown.  Gage Fortner found Camden Griffith on the conversion to put Pattonsburg up 8-0 with 10:02 left in the first quarter.

North Andrew answered on a 5-minute and 38-second drive to even the score when Levi McAfee found Oren Goff on a screen pass.  Goff ran it in from 23 yards out.  McAfee then found Isaac Coats in the end zone to tie the game at 8.

Pattonsburg answered immediately with a Fortner to Gavin Humphrey 24-yard pass.  After the Cardinals fumbled on the kickoff, Pattonsburg struck again when Fortner found Maize on a screen pass for a 3-yard touchdown reception.  Both conversions were good, and Pattonsburg lead 24-8 at the end of the first quarter.

Pattonsburg defense forced the Cardinals into two 4th and long situations in their following drives.  They were forced to punt and then turned it over on downs.  Pattonsburg capitalized on both.  After the punt, Maize scored from 39 yards out on the first play.  The Maize caught a screen pass from Fortner and ran it 29 yards for another touchdown with 8:06 left in the half.  It was Maize's 4th touchdown of the half.  Pattonsburg led 38-8.  

The Cardinals were finally able to get their offense going late in the first half, but they would only exchange touchdowns with the Panthers.  Goff had two touchdown passes in the last 4 minutes of the half.  Pattonsburg answered both times.  Fortner found Gavin Humphrey downfield for a 49-yard touchdown pass.  And then after the Cardinals scored with 22.3 seconds left in the first half, the Panthers struck again.  Fortner went down on the previous play after getting hit.  So Camden Griffith came in and found a wide-open Humphrey in the end zone for a 25-yard reception.  Pattonsburg led 52-24 at the half.

Pattonsburg would maintain a lead of about 30 points for the rest of the game.  Maize scored his 5th touchdown in the 3rd quarter for the only score, resulting in a Pattonsburg 58-24 lead after three.

North Andrew would score three times in the 4th quarter.  McAffee had a 3-yard TD run, Goff had a 9-yard TD run, and a 60-yard run.  But Pattonsburg answered with a Maize 32-yard run and Humphrey 24-yard run for touchdowns.  Pattonsburg ended the game with a 74-42 win.

Pattonsburg Coach Brandon Burkhead praised the defense and running game.  In talking about the defense, Burkhead said, "We knew they were run heavy, so we focused on number 50 in their backfield, and our body watched film and worked on it all week.  They have been putting in hours on film, so they know exactly where they're going." He added, "Football's a mental sport, and they're mentally there, so we're going to prepare (for Princeton).  We're going to celebrate this win tonight and start work tomorrow."

Coach Burkhead promised to shave his beard if the Panthers won.  He made a bet with the players that if they won this game, he would shave.  

Pattonsburg is now 3-0 and 1-0 in the GRC West.  North Andrew falls to 1-2 and 0-1 in the GRC West.

Please support the following sponsors of GRC Sports:

Comments

Post a Comment