Photo: A host of West End defenders brings down Glencoe’s Garrett Gaskin during the Patriots’ 25-17 victory in high school football on October 28 in Walnut Grove. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
West End finished with an undefeated home record following a 25-17 victory over Etowah County neighbor Glencoe on October 28 in Walnut Grove. The Patriots improved to 11-15 overall against the Yellow Jackets, who finished the year at 2-8.
West End (7-3) travels to Aliceville for the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs this Friday (Nov. 4) for the program’s first postseason appearance since 2016.
With West End ahead 16-7 at halftime, Glencoe tied the game courtesy of Gavin Bray’s 25-yard field goal late in the third quarter and Nolan Fairley’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Carter Cook early in the fourth. Bray’s extra point following Fairley’s TD pass provided Glencoe with a one-point lead.
The Yellow Jackets enjoyed their advantage for less than four minutes.
The Patriots took the lead for good at the eight-minute mark with Rock Sainsbury’s 13-yard touchdown run, while Evan Stancil’s 32-yard field goal with 3:30 remaining in the game provided West End with some insurance.
Glencoe’s last drive in the game’s final minutes ended when West End’s Dakota McKay came up with a sack with the Yellow Jackets at the West End 41-yard line.
For the Patriots, Tyler Jones was 6 for 12 in passing for 74 yards. He also ran four times for 36 yards. Thad Pearce had three receptions for 27 yards, while Triston Chaney caught two passes for 43 yards. Kane Lawson rushed six times for 83 yards, while Sainsbury finished with 35 yards on 10 attempts.
Jaxon Hamby had an interception on defense.
West End opened the scoring on Kane Lawson 80-yard touchdown run at 7:20 of the first quarter.
The Yellow Jackets tied it up nine seconds into the second period with Fairley’s 44-yard TD run.
Stancil’s 32-yard field goal at the 4:26 mark made it 10-7 in favor of the Patriots, while Jones’ 28-yard touchdown pass to Triston Chaney with two minutes to go before the half put West End ahead 16-7.