Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
West End rallied from a double-digit deficit to defeat Holly Pond, 49-26, in Class 2A, Region 6 action in the Patriots’ homecoming on October 7.
The victory clinched a playoff berth for West End (6-1, 3-1), which moved into a tie for second place in the region standings.
The Patriots scored 35 unanswered points after the visiting Broncos took a 14-0 first quarter lead via Sawyer Olinger’s 1-yard touchdown run and Olinger’s 18-yard TD pass to Diego Garcia. Tyler Jones’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Thad Pearce, Jones’ 6-yard touchdown run and Rock Sainsbury’s 16-yard TD run during the second quarter provided West End with a 21-14 lead at halftime. Evan Stancil converted the first of his seven extra points on the night.
The Patriots made it 28-14 at 5:07 of the third quarter on Kane Lawson’s 66-yard touchdown run, while Sainsbury’s 10-yard scoring run 10 seconds into the fourth period put the hosts up by 21 points.
Holly Pond drew within 35-20 a few minutes later on Boston Gibbs’ 7-yard TD run, but West End soon put the game out of reach courtesy of Kane Lawson 64-yard touchdown run and Jones’ 7-yard TD pass to Thad Pearce.
Jones was 6-for-10 in passing for 60 yards. Lawson and Pearce each had two receptions.
Lawson rushed seven times for 285 yards and a 40.7 average. Sainsbury gained 87 yards on 10 attempts.
Defensively, Jaxon Hamby had an interception, while Stancil, Sainsbury and Josh Carroll (pictured above at right) each had a fumble recovery.
The Patriots travel to Cleveland this Friday (Oct. 14) to continue region play.
