Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
Three West End players finished with over 100 yards in the Patriots’ 44-21 victory over Sand Rock on September 23.
It was West End’s first win against Sand Rock since 2001, breaking a 10-game losing streak in the series.
The teams combined for 864 yards in offense, with the Patriots holding a 224 to 30 edge in the ground game.
Senior quarterback Tyler Jones was 10 for 17 in passing for 224 yards and two touchdowns, senior receiver Thad Pearce had seven receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns and junior halfback Kane Lawson rushed seven times for 139 yards and two TDs.
The Patriots (5-1, 2-1) ran out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter, courtesy of Lawson’s 76-yard touchdown run and a pair of Jones-to-Pearce touchdown passes, the first for 47 yards and the second for 50. Evan Stancil (pictured above) kicked the first three of his five extra points on the night.
The Wildcats drew within 21-7 on Aaron Ashley’s 50-yard TD pass to Logan Crider, but the patriots answered with a three-yard touchdown run by Jones. Sand Rock closed the gap to 28-14 at halftime via Ashley’s 80-yard touchdown pass to Jace Turner.
The lone score of the third quarter was a career-best 43-yard field goal by Stancil that made it 31-14.
Lawson helped to put the game out of reach with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, one on offense and another on defense. His 21-yard touchdown run eight seconds into the period put the Patriots ahead 37-14, while his interception return for a touchdown five minutes later extended the lead to 44-14.
Sand Rock cut it to 44-21 with five minutes remaining on Ashley’s 43-yard TD pass to Brian Giles.
Also for West End, Rock Sainsbury rushed 15 times for 65 yards and had two interceptions. Lawson had a fumble recovery.
The Patriots are off this week before hosting Class 2A, Region 6 rival Holly Pond on October 7 for homecoming.