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Derrick Underwood amassed 121 yards rushing and scored a touchdowns in the first half and then he and his Patriots teammates cruised home with a 27-3 win at Jackson-Olin on Thursday night.
The Patriots defense was dominant, allowing only a fake punt pass that set up the Mustangs’ only points as Homewood improved to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in Class 6A, Region 5 play. The win closed out region play for the Pats, who could still win the region if Walker is upset Friday night by Hueytown. Regardless, the Patriots have locked up a home game for the first round of the playoffs.
“Derrick had a big night,” Homewood coach Ben Berguson said. "Chestin Jones ran well. We had a good game rushing the ball tonight. I was pleased with our offensive line.
“And I was real happy with our defense, they played great again this week. I thought Griffin Gentry had a huge first half and I was really happy because he got an official offer from the University of South Carolina at halftime.”
Berguson still felt the offense could improve and finish off a couple of drives with touchdowns that resulted in Roger Castro field goals. Castro hit from 32 and 33 yards.
“J-O tried a little bit of everything offensively. It’s too bad that completed that long pass on the fake field goal, but other than that we pretty well shut them down.”
Jackson-Olin, coached by Homewood High graduate Tim Vakakes, pulled the trickery out right away. The Mustangs (3-6, 3-4) executed an onside kick on the opening kickoff. But the Patriots defense held on three plays and took the punt and drove 74 yards on 12 snaps. Carson Griffis connected with Ronald Claiborne for a 39-yard pass play to set up a 5-yard pass from Griffis to Griffin Walker for the first score of the game. Castro’s extra point made it 7-0 with 5:46 left in the first quarter.
After a Mustangs punt, the Patriots threatened, but Underwood was stripped of the ball as he fought for extra yardage and J-O recovered at its 28.
Homewood’s defense, led by Gentry, held again and the Pats took over at their 42. A 39-yard pass play from Griffis to Underwood set up Castro for a 32-yard field goal, which hit the right upright but skittered through for a 10-0 lead on the final play of the opening quarter.
The Patriots held J-O again, but on fourth down, the Mustangs ‘ punter connected with Demario Brown for a first down into Patriots territory. Ibrahima Sylla provided J-O what would prove to be its only points of the night with a 30-ayrd field goal.
Jackson-Olin tried yet another onside kick, this time unsuccessfully, as if miffed by all the shenanigans, two plays later Underwood hauled around the left side for 49 yards and another touchdown. Castro’s extra point made it 17-3 with 8:46 left in the half.
Coordinator Freddy Lawrence’s defense forced another punt, and Underwood’s 31-yard scamper set up another Castro field goal, this one from 33 yards out, with 3:01 left in the half.
The visitors took their 20-3 lead into the lockers.
At the half, Underwood had 121 yards on 15 carries, and he mostly let others do the heavy lifting after the break, especially Jones, who showed off his speed on a 44-yard burst for a TD on Homewood’s first second-half possession. Castro’s point made the score 27-3 with 9:45 left, and it was all over but the shouting.
A long kickoff return gave Sylla a shot at a 37-yard field goal that fell short, and the Patriots, wise to the Mustangs’ tricks slammed the door shut. Homewood was content to kill the clock the rest of the way.
Besides being thrilled at the halftime news, Gentry was happy with the defense’s effort.
“I think we played pretty well,” Gentry said. “There are always mistakes. That’s how it’s supposed to be. You learn from them and they make you better.”
Underwood said the backs and line had made a commitment to run the ball.
“Our offensive line blocked a lot better this game, opened a lot of holes and that’s why I got a lot of yards,” the senior modestly said. “We’ve – the running backs and offensive line – have been working hard to get better. That’s the reason.”
Homewood travels to Northport to face Class 7A Tuscaloosa County next week to finish the regular season. The Wildcats, winless so far, face Vestavia Hills Friday night in Northport.
As far as the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs are concerned, the Patriots’ opponent won’t be determined until after Friday night’s games, but it’s likely the Pats would host either Southside-Gadsden or Lee of Huntsville.
Derrick Underwood amassed 121 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns in the first half and then he and his Patriots teammates cruised home with a 27-3 win at Jackson-Olin on Thursday night.
The Patriots defense was dominant, allowing only a fake punt pass that set up the Mustangs’ only points as Homewood improved to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in Class 6A, Region 5 play. The win closed out region play for the Pats, who could still win the region if Walker is upset Friday night by Hueytown. Regardless, the Patriots have locked up a home game for the first round of the playoffs.
“Derrick had a big night,” Homewood coach Ben Berguson said. Chestin Jones ran well. We had a good game rushing the ball tonight. I was pleased with our offensive line.
“And I was real happy with our defense, they played great again this week. I thought Griffin Gentry had a huge first half and I was really happy because he got an official offer from the University of South Carolina at halftime.”
Berguson still felt the offense could improve and finish off a couple of drives with touchdowns that resulted in Roger Castro field goals. Castro hit from 32 and 33 yards.
“J-O tried a little bit of everything offensively. It’s too bad that completed that long pass on the fake field goal, but other than that we pretty well shut them down.”
Jackson-Olin, coached by Homewood High graduate Tim Vakakes, pulled the trickery out right away. The Mustangs (3-6, 3-4) executed an onside kick on the opening kickoff. But the Patriots defense held on three plays and took the punt and drove 74 yards on 12 snaps. Carson Griffis connected with Ronald Claiborne for a 39-yard pass play to set up a 3-yard run by Underwood for the first score of the game. Castro’s extra point made it 7-0 with 5:46 left in the first quarter.
After a Mustangs punt, the Patriots threatened, but Underwood was stripped of the ball as he fought for extra yardage and J-O recovered at its 28.
Homewood’s defense, led by Gentry, held again and the Pats took over at their 42. A 39-yard pass play from Griffis to Underwood set up Castro for a 32-yard field goal, which hit the right upright but skittered through for a 10-0 lead on the final play of the opening quarter.
The Patriots held J-O again, but on fourth down, the Mustangs ‘ punter connected with Demario Brown for a first down into Patriots territory. Ibrahima Sylla provided J-O what would prove to be its only points of the night with a 30-ayrd field goal.
Jackson-Olin tried yet another onside kick, this time unsuccessfully, as if miffed by all the shenanigans, two plays later Underwood hauled around the left side for 49 yards and another touchdown. Castro’s extra point made it 17-3 with 8:46 left in the half.
Coordinator Freddy Lawrence’s defense forced another punt, and Underwood’s 31-yard scamper set up another Castro field goal, this one from 33 yards out, with 3:01 left in the half.
The visitors took their 20-3 lead into the lockers.
At the half, Underwood had 121 yards on 15 carries, and he mostly let others do the heavy lifting, especially Jones, who showed off his speed on a 44-yard burst for a TD on Homewood’s first second-half possession. Castro’s point made the score 27-3 with 9:45 left, and it was all over but the shouting.
A long kickoff return gave Sylla a shot at a 37-yard field goal that fell short, and the Patriots, wise to the Mustangs’ tricks slammed the door shut. Homewood was content to kill the clock the rest of the way.
Besides being thrilled at the halftime news, Gentry was happy with the defense’s effort.
“I think we played pretty well,” Gentry said. “There are always mistakes. That’s how it’s supposed to be. You learn from them and they make you better.”
Underwood said the backs and line had made a commitment to run the ball.
“Our offensive line blocked a lot better this game, opened a lot of holes and that’s why I got a lot of yards,” the senior modestly said. “We’ve – the running backs and offensive line – have been working hard to get better. That’s the reason.”
Homewood travels to Northport to face Class 7A Tuscaloosa County next week to finish the regular season. The Wildcats, winless so far, face Vestavia Hills Friday night in Northport.
As far as the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs are concerned, the Patriots’ opponent won’t be determined until after Friday night’s games, but it’s likely the Pats would host either Southside-Gadsden or Lee of Huntsville.
