Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
In a game that decided the second playoff seed in Class 2A, Region 6, West End fell to Cleveland, 48-25 on October 14 at CHS.
The Patriots (6-2, 4-2), who clinched a postseason berth earlier this month, travel to Locust Fork this Friday (Oct. 21), with the winner claiming the three seed and the loser finishing fourth.
The Panthers (5-3, 4-1) jumped out to a 24-0 lead midway through the second quarter before Tyler Jones’ 1-yard touchdown run with five minutes left before halftime got West End on the scoreboard.
The Patriots pulled within 12 points early in the second half on Jones’ 40-yard TD pass to Thad Pearce, but the hosts responded with three straight touchdowns to put West End in a 48-12 hole.
The Patriots cut the deficit to 23 points by way of Rock Sainsbury’s 54-yard TD run and Jones’ 49-yard touchdown pass to Kane Lawson, but Cleveland did not allow another point the rest of the way.
Jones was 14 for 28 in passing for 211 yards. He also rushed three times for 23 yards.
Lawson had seven receptions for 136 yards, while Pearce (pictured above) caught six passes for 67 yards.
Sainsbury paced the Patriot ground game with 63 yards on eight carries.
Luke Barnard forced a fumble on a kickoff in the second quarter, which Triston Chaney recovered.
