Pinewood Prevails in Friday Night Showdown
By: Lilly Dasher, Junior
On August 26, Pinewood Christian Academy (PCA) went head to head against Memorial Day School’s Matadors in Bellville, and the Patriots game out on top of a 14-13 battle.
First Quarter
Jeffrey Young started the game off with a 30-yard run for a Patriot first down. Lineman, Wes Purcell, had several strong sacks for PCA. Matthew Floyd had several outstanding tackles. Parks Hagan and Purcell led the Patriots on tackles for Pinewood.
Pinewood intercepted the ball on Memorial’s 23-yard line. With several penalties, Memorial was forced to kick a field goal attempt. They were successful and the score became 0-3.
On the next series, PCA turned the ball over on downs. Memorial scored the first touchdown (TD) of the game. Completing the point after kick, the scoreboard read 0-10.
Second Quarter
The second quarter did not start off well for the Patriots . They fumbled the ball and Memorial recovered it, but flags called Memorial back for a penalty.
Floyd, Hagan and Purcell were team leaders Friday night as they made tackle after tackle.
A penalty called on Pinewood, put Memorial 5 yards closer to the end zone with turnover on downs, forcing Memorial to punt. The Patriots were flagged for holding.
The Patriot defense showed up in the second quarter with Purcell completing a great sack on Memorial’s offense again.
Collin Woolard blocked a Memorial pass almost intercepting the ball. Pinewood recovered the fumble at Memorial’s 45-yard line, but fumbled it again. The Matadors recovered the fumble.
The Matadors added another field goal in the first half of the game.
Halftime Show
During the halftime show, the Wee Cheer girls performed a dance. For the first quarter of the game, the young cheerleaders cheered on the sidelines with the varsity squad.
Third Quarter
The score was still 0-13 as the third quarter began. Garlon Rogers made several good carries gaining yardage for PCA, and he earned a first down for the Patriots.
Young completed a pass to Hagan which put PCA at the 1 yard line. Rogers ran into the end zone and scored Pinewood’s first TD. The point after was kicked through the uprights which made the score 7-13.
Floyd and Grady Skeens had spectacular back field tackles. Jake Woolard interrupted a Memorial pass attempt and Sky Rogers tackled the runner for a fourth down.
Memorial was forced to punt and PCA caught the ball at the 40-yard line.
Fourth Quarter
During the fourth quarter, the Pinewood Patriots played hard. A flag backed Memorial up for holding. Caleb Shuman was forced out of bounds along the 2-yard line. Young scored the second Patriot TD on a quarterback keeper. The extra point was successful, making the score 14-13.
Memorial was backed up 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct on the next drive. Shuman had a strong tackle. Cameron Dutton recovered a fumble and ran the ball gaining yardage for Pinewood. Rogers earned another first down for PCA.
Shuman picked up a first down, which put the boys in green and orange on the 18-yard line.
With only two minutes left in the game, Pinewood was called back for holding. The Patriots fumbled and Memorial recovered the ball. Memorial had a great pass for a first down.
Only 39 seconds remained on the clock and Memorial’s next pass was incomplete. A flag was called against Memorial for holding.
Pinewood’s defense held the Matadors from gaining any more yards, and the time ran out as Memorial missed a possible game-winning field goal.
The boys in green and orange won a nail-biter in front of a home crowd. Pinewood will play at home against Augusta Prep. at 7:30, September 9.
