By Deunte Marshall/Sports Correspondent
Ider put a damper on West End’s homecoming with a 59-26 win over the Patriots in a Class 2A, Region 7 game on Friday in Walnut Grove.
“Our guys played hard and I can’t argue with their effort and how hard they played,” said West End head coach Kyle Davis.
The Patriots (1-5, 0-4) took the ball on their first drive and scored in 11 plays, the final one a three-yard rush by Hunter Grant, with 8:40 left in the first quarter.
West End recovered an onside kick on the following kickoff, but Ider (4-2,1-2) scored on the next play.
The Patriots got on the scoreboard again with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Grant to Hunter Bailey with 2:54 left in the first half.
West End scored in the third quarter on a 10-play drive. On three consecutive third down conversion attempts, Bruce Evans stepped up and made a first down catch each time. Evans’ production help set up Grant’s 12-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds left in the quarter.
The final score for the Patriots came on Jordan Malin’s 11-yard touchdown run with 7:33 remaining in the game.
Malin led West End on the ground with 22 carries for 122 yards.
Grant was 14 for 28 in passing for 204 yards.
Bruce Evans had three receptions for 55 yards, while Dylan Gregory and Bailey each had two.
The Patriots travel to Gaston next week for a region game.