Patriots 13 Hilltop Lancers 6

The Patriots took two bus loads of players to Hilltop HS to finish out the season with a 13 - 6 victory over the Lancers.

To say the game was a defensive battle would be an understatement. Both defenses were dominant and both defenses controlled the game. There was a lot of big hits and really good tackling. Both linebacker squads dominated the game.

The Lancers took the opening drive down for a TD. The Patriots blocked the PAT giving the Lancers a 6 - 0 lead. LB Trey Johnson #48 intercepted a Lancer pass 40 yards for a TD giving the Patriots a slim 7 - 6 lead.

The game went back and forth with no scoring until the 4th quarter. The Patriots had a hard time picking up the blitzing Lancers. So we made a change... We switched to our 'Rhino' or our goal line offense. The change worked and offensive line consisting of Aaron Ping, DJ Samuels, Armando Martinez, Josh Prater, Mohamed Ali, Charlie Martinez and Zack Brown, along with FB's Frankie Bernard, Nick Sullivan and Colton Ledford took control of the game. They were able to open holes for Marcos Gonzalez all the while, eating up valuable time off the clock.

Gonzalez scored on a 5 yard run giving the Patriots some breathing room. The defense closed out the game with a tackle and strip of the ball by Zack Brown. As the refs were looking in the pile for the ball, DE Bernard Smith stood up, held the ball up over his head 5 yards away from the pile as if to say, "Here it is! I have the ball" Finally, a ref saw Smith and signalled Patriot ball.

I am very proud of our players. But not as proud as I was as they sang the Alma Mater in front of our fans. The players posed for a final photo before getting on the bus.

The players wanted to dump the water coolers on me. I told them we have done things the "Old School" way. Back in the day, when I was a Patriot football player, we carried the coach after a big victory into the showers and we soaked him that way.

Well, the players picked me up, carried me into the shower and got me drenched. Not just once, but twice! The players loved it and it re-introduced a lot of tradition to Patriot Football.

In the end, there were lots of hugs, love and admiration that was exchanged between me and all my players. I am proud of them as men and as football players. And I am proud they are a part me and the tradition of Patrick Henry Football.