Patrick Henry used a key fourth quarter stand to quell a late Hidden Valley charge, as the Patriots held on to defeat the Titans 24-21 in the season opener for both teams at Gainer Field Friday night.
Hidden Valley, the Group AA River Ridge District member came to play, giving AAA Western Valley District PH all they could handle. The Titans took the lead twice in the first half, first on a Duke-bound Jake Kite 4-yard reception from HIdden Valley quarterback Nic Ratliff that put the Titans up 7-0. Later, Walker Brand went in from 8-yards out to put HIdden Valley ahead 14-7.
On both occasions Patrick Henry responded, with Virginia Tech-bound Patriot quarterback David Prince breaking a 37-yard run early in the second quarter before Xavier Whorley found the end zone from 12-yards out, sending the teams to the halftime break tied at 14.
After neither team dented the scoreboard in the third quarter, PH seemed ready to take control in the fourth with a Whorley 6-yard touchdown run, followed by a 43-yard Jacob Otterman field goal with just over three minutes to play.
Hidden Valley wasted no time and cut the lead to the final margin with just under two minutes left on KIte’s second touchdown catch from 25 yards. Thirty-six seconds later, Prince fumbled the snap, turning the ball over for a final Titan opportunity.
Hidden Valley fell short when it failed to convert on fourth down on the subsequent drive.
PH topped the Titans 272-190 on the ground, with Whorley picking up 136 yards on 21 carries. Prince added 88 yards on 15 keepers. Hidden Valley was led by Walker Brand’s 92 yards, followed by Mason Dermott’s 78.
Hidden Valley had the decided edge in the air, with Ratliff hitting 11-of-19 attempts for 97 yards, while Prince was 2-of-9 for 12 yards for the Patriots.
1)Patrick Henry #23 Xavier Whorley takes the handoff from quarterback David Prince as the Patriots held on to defeat Hidden Valley