By Joe Joe Wright

On a humid night in Rochelle, Ga. the Wilcox County Patriots forgot their rebuilding year under dog role and came right out and punched the Hawkinsville Red Devils in the kisser.

Showing no signs of a young team, except for a tremendous amount of penalties, the Patriots were a scrappy bunch all night. After one exchange and a big sack by # 50 Johntavis Walker the Patriots got the ball and moved quickly down the field on a 20 yard run by Ta’Corian Hunlen and then Hunlen found a wide open Markese Love for 22 yard touchdown pass and the Pats were up 7-0 after the Landon Ledford PAT. Bending but never breaking for most of the first half the Pats held Hawkinsville in check. Hawkinsville did manage to get into field goal range only to have that blocked by # 52 Larry Pearce.

After several exchanges between the teams Wilcox would fumble deep in their own territory late in the first half and Hawkinsville was able to capitalize on it and score a touchdown along with a 2-point conversion. Wilcox moved very fast down the field and the half ended with the patriots and the Devils 2 yard line and and 8-7 Hawkinsville lead.

In the second half Wilcox got the ball first drove 35 yards to the Devils 25 and turned it over on downs. The Red Devils took the ball drove the length of the field and scored another touchdown the PAT was no good and the score with 1:59 to go in the 3^rd was 14-7. Suddenly with 22 seconds in the 3^rd quarter Hawkinsville again had the ball but a fumble on the play was scooped up by # 14 Desmond Tisdol and he scampered in from about 22 yards out for a touchdown, the PAT by Ledford was good and the score was 14-14. Wilcox # 32 Robert Bishop got a big block punt and The Pats had the ball at the Devils 40 yard line with 535 to go. The Patriots drove the ball down and failed to score. Then Pats held Hawkinsville and here went into overtime. After failing to score first the Patriots gave the ball to Hawkinsville and the Red Devils didn’t miss on their scoring opportunity and the Devils won 20-14. On this night flags and and fumbles ruled the gridiron as both teams had bunch on Friday night.

” The boys played gutsy and I am proud of their never quit attitude, but we have got to fix these mistakes both penalties and fumbles,” said Head Coach Mark Ledford.