Patrick Henry got enough second half offense to take control of the game, and the PH defense rose to the occasion in key situations, as the Patriots caged the previously unbeaten Cougars 21-10 last Friday night at Merrill Gainer Field.
PH improved to 3-0 on the season.
The Patriots came out of the gate in style, taking the opening kickoff and driving 70 yards before Xavier Whorley plowed in from one-yard out. Jacob Otterman’s PAT put PH up 7-0.
Pulaski County got the only other points of the first half on a first quarter Shane Crisley 23-yard field goal. The Patriot defense made a stand late in the half, keeping the Cougars off the board after they had driven inside the Patrick Henry 5-yard line.
PH extended their lead to 14-3 on their first possession of the third quarter when senior running back Antwaun Harried scored from the 3. Pulaski County closed to 14-10 on a Marcus McClanahan 3-yard dive early in the fourth quarter, but Whorley sealed the deal for Patrick Henry with an 8-yard touchdown run with just over five minutes remaining.
Although the Cougars executed their signature running game for 208 yards, the PH defense made the big plays when they needed. The Patriots picked up 176 yards on the ground, with Whorley ( 89 yards on 17 carries) and Harried ( 57 on 9 ) leading the way. Patriot quarterback David Prince was 9-for-9 in the passing game for 99 yards, while the Patriot secondary grounded the Cougar air attack, allowing only 6 yards on two completions.
PH travels to Blacksburg on Friday (Sept 14th) where they will face a Bruin squad they defeated 49-3 in 2011.
BILL TURNER game story/photo
