Patrick Henry securred its first playoff spot in 12 years Friday night at Merrill Gainer Field, as the Patriots outmanned William Fleming 26-8 in the Noel C. Taylor Classic regular season finale between the cross-town rivals.
Patrick Henry improved to 8-2 and will travel to Colonial Forge for a Northwest Region Division 6 playoff game. PH enters the contest as the sixth seed in the region.
The young William Fleming team, dominated with freshmen and sophomores, will look to the future after a 1-9 campaign in 2012.
The pregame coin toss with the captains offered strict instructions from the officials that the highest level of sportsmanship was expected, and the two squads complied throughout the long-time rivalry matchup.
Patrick Henry got on the scoreboard early in the opening quarter after a bad punt snap on Fleming’s first possession set the Patriots up deep in Colonel territory.
Xavier Whorley took it in from two-yards out several plays later for a 7-0 Patrick Henry lead after Jacob Otterman’s point-after. PH made it 14-0 in the second on a David Prince to Cortez Ogden 7-yard touchdown pass.
William Fleming cut the Patriot lead to 14-8 later in the second quarter when freshman quarterback Tyrell Adams found senior Trey Sawyers for a 10-yard TD toss. Adams finished with 126 passing yards on 11-of-21 efficiency.
Prince completed the first half scoring with a 2-yard keeper that sent the teams to the locker room with the Patriots up 20-8. Prince led the PH rushing attack with 105 yards, while Whorley added 53 on 19 carries.
Defense took over in the second half with the only scores coming on Otterman field goals of 27 and 24 yards. The Patriots held Fleming to minus-yards on the ground for the game.
BILL TURNER game story/photo
