Greenwood, MS — On Friday, September 7, the Patriots traveled to Greenwood to take on the Pillow Mustangs. To put it plainly, it was a fight in a mud pit. Due to the massive amounts of rain in the last week, a quick storm before the game, and a grass field, the conditions were not optimal.

It was a slow first half for both teams, but the Patriots defense remained on top by keeping Pillow scoreless. While doing this, the defense also only let up two big passes, which were early in the game, and had four total interceptions. Due to all of the recent injuries in the past few games, the Patriots defense included a lot of younger players who stepped up and showed out.

The offense saw a huge stepping up as well. After running back Jerrion Ealy went down early in the first quarter with a minor arm injury and only one touchdown, it was time for the rest of the Patriots backfield to step up, and that’s exactly what happened. With 8:26 left to go in the second quarter, and with the score only 6-0, sophomore Matt Jones stepped up and drove in the end zone on a 14 yard carry to put the team up 13-0 going into halftime.

In the third quarter, Jones scored again with a 69-yard rush to put the Patriots up 20-0 only 19 seconds into the third quarter. The defense, in turn, did its job and continued to keep the Mustangs scoreless throughout. Then, with 2:32 left in the third, junior running back J.T. Mardis helped drive the offense down the field, and then scored on a one-yard push to put the team up 27-0.

The fourth quarter saw a similar routine. The defense kept pressuring the Mustangs offense into turnovers and did not allow any points. Then, with 11:57 left in the game, senior running back Angelo Levon delivered with a two-yard rush to put the Patriots up 34-0. He then delivered again with another four-yard rush with 8:13 to go, leaving the final score 41-0.

Overall, the team had to show its true depth and the ability of all of its players. The secondaries and non-starters delivered and aided the starters in a mid-game turnaround in unfavorable conditions.

The Patriots will travel this week to St. Joe in Madison. The game is Friday, September 14, at 7:00.