Defense delivers Patriots win
Homewood High put Friday night’s key Class 6A, Region 5 trip to Jackson-Olin in the hands of the Patriots’ defense. Even in a precarious spot in the final minutes between a pair of evenly matched teams, that was a pretty secure feeling for Homewood head coach Ben Berguson.
The Patriot defense had an inspiring goal-line stand with just over three minutes later and stiffened once again in the final minute to help Homewood hold on for a 13-12 victory over the previously unbeaten Mustangs.
“That was a huge win for us on the road,” Berguson said. “I’m really proud of the defense and the way they played. They play with such great effort. Coach (Freddy) Lawrence does such a great job with our defense. We’ve got a lot to work on offensively but I’m really proud to get this win tonight.”
It certainly didn’t come easy in a game that was a defensive struggle from the outset. The only first half points came on a 16-yard pass from Larkin Williams to running back Nick McCoy. The score came two plays after Ryan Williams’ 25-yard reception. The Patriots (3-1 overall, 1-1 Region 5) missed the extra point but still led 6-0 with 7:52 left in the first half.
Jackson-Olin (2-1 overall, 0-1 Region 5) managed just 36 first half yards. Homewood forced three first half turnovers, including interceptions by C.D. Daniels and Kris Wilkins.
The Mustangs didn’t complete their first pass until late in the third quarter but it was a doozy. Running back Deandre Carlton completed the pass, after initially dropping a lateral, to a wide open Tr’yveon Hutchins. The junior receiver, who gained 28 yards on the play, was eventually dragged down at the Homewood 28-yard line. The Patriots failed to budge afterwards, though, and Jackson-Olin kicker Kaba Conde cut the deficit in half with a 45-yard field goal.
Homewood countered with a crisp 10-play, 59-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Ty Hatcher to Bailey Lapinsky. Lane Gilchrist’s extra point gave Homewood a 13-3 lead with 9:44 left.
The 10-point advantage seemed comfortable at that point but the Mustangs suddenly found some success in the passing game. Quarterback Bralan Johnson capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a 45-yard scoring strike to Alvin Toney with 7:20 left in the game, trimming the Homewood lead to three points.
A big turnover just over a minute later, changed the complexion of the fourth quarter. Sophomore running back David Robertson, who some key second half runs, fumbled the ball while struggling for extra yards. It appeared that Robertson might have lost the ball after hitting the ground but it was ruled a fumble and Jackson-Olin defensive back Jacob Biles raced 41 yards after scooping up the loose football.
Jackson-Olin was just 15 yards away from the go-ahead touchdown and the Mustangs inserted Coynis Miller, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defense lineman, at the quarterback position. He ran straight ahead three times, gaining 13 yards, to give the Mustangs a first down at the 2-yard line.
“You just got to step it up,” Homewood defensive lineman Bailey Thomas said of the mindset at that point. “He can only go to one side of the field, so you just got to step it up for the guys to your left and your right.”
Miller was stuffed for no gain on the next play and left the field with an injury. Johnson returned to the field and gained just one yard on two carries. On fourth down, the Mustangs tried a reverse pass but Kamarrus Amison was hurried by several Homewood players, with Antoine McGhee leading the way, and Amison’s pass fell to the ground after being tipped by a Patriot defender.
“It’s crazy,” Thomas said. “We’re all so beat right now. You just know that when you’re on the 1-yard line for five plays, six plays, you have to step up. It’s a great feeling when you get that stop.”
The work wasn’t finished. Homewood was unable to get the ball out of the shadow of the goal post and running back Chestin Jones, who lined up as the Wildcat quarterback, was eventually tackled for a safety with 1:36 remaining.
Jackson-Olin’s final shot began at the Mustang 41-yard line and the Mustangs reached the Homewood 30-yard line. But the threat ended after a bad snap cost the Mustangs 19 yards. The game ended with Thomas and linebacker Riley Meeks combining on a sack.
“Hopefully we can get back on track now,” said Berguson, whose team lost a two-touchdown lead in last week’s 25-21 loss to Parker. “That was a hard loss last week to Parker. I thought we practiced all week and played tonight with a chip on our shoulder. We’re still making a lot of young mistakes. As long as we get better every week, I think we’ll be fine.”