defeated 35-21 in the Region 6-A championship game by Mount Paran on Friday night. The Patriots (7-3) were able to overcome a two-touchdown deficit early in the second half, but the Eagles (10-0) pulled away in the fourth quarter to win.
The Patriots forced a fumble on Mount Paran’s first drive in the red zone, but quickly gave the ball back and Mt. Paran took the lead on the first of four Dorian Walker touchdown runs. The Patriots answered quickly, putting together a 13 play, 63-yard drive that took eight minutes off the clock. Nicky Piccapietra capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to tie the game.
The Eagles retook the lead on a 60 yard run by Walker and scored once more before the half to take a 21-7 lead into the locker room.
The Patriots started the second half strong when Aaron Winchester plunged into the end zone from two yards out to cut the lead in half. The senior set up his own score with a 70-yard run on the drive.
After the Patriots defense forced a Mount Paran punt, Winchester hit Ben Miller for a 45-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21. The Eagles offense was relentless, scoring immediately on a 63-yard run by Walker. Mt. Paran put the game away midway through the fourth quarter with Walker’s final touchdown of the night.
Winchester was 6-13 passing on the night for 78-yards and a touchdown. He led the team in rushing with 115 yards on 20 attempts and a score. Piccapietra added 40 yards of his own to the teams rushing total.
Defensively Oz Dixon recorded seven total tackles, and Max Miller had 5.
The Patriots will find out their seeding for the playoffs this week, but they will not have a game until November 22.
-Stuart Hughes
