After trailing 14-7 at halftime, the Patriots poured it on in the second half by adding 22 unanswered points over Wayne Academy to improve their record to 5-3.
The Jaguars added the first points of the night with a score at the end of the opening quarter to go up 7-0. Winston then answered right back on the following possession when Omar Scott took it 8 yards for the score with Brylee Wall tying the game at 7-7 with his PAT.
The Jaguars then quickly regained the lead with a score at 5:20 before halftime to go back up 14-7. With only punt exchanges from both teams the rest of the quarter, the Patriots had their backs against the wall to start the second half.
With possession to start the second half, Winston marched it down field behind the hard running of Omar Scott and J.R. Coleman. After moving the ball to the Jaguar 18 yard line, Brylee Wall connected with J.T. McGinnis for an 18 yard scoring pass. Attempting the try for 2, Wall was then forced to run for his life, and threw a Hail Mary 2 point pass from near the 40 yard line.
It was then that Jack Wooten made the catch and dove across the goal line to put the Patriots on top for the first time with the 15-14 score.
Following a punt on the next Wayne possession, Winston added another score when J.R. Coleman took it over from the 2 yard line, followed by Wall's PAT to increase the Patriot lead to 22-14 with 23 seconds left in the third quarter. As the final quarter got underway, Caleb Ellinburg put the Patriots back in good field possession when he recovered a fumble at the Winston 41 yard line with 10:19 left to play.
Immediately after, Wall found McGinnis open down the middle for a 40 yard strike for the final score of the night, and then added the PAT to give the Patriots the 29-14 come from behind win. While producing 398 yards in total offense, the Patriots were led in rushing by Omar Scott with 89 yards and 1 touchdown. Following closely was J.R Coleman with 88 yards and 1 score. In the passing game, Brylee Wall connected on 11 of 18 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdown passes. His leading receiver was J.T. McGinnis with 102 yards on 5 receptions and 2 touchdown receptions. He was followed by Secrata Miller with 57 yards and Donnie Chunn with 50 yards.
The defensive attack was led by team leading tackler Jack Wooten with 9 stops, followed by Will Thompson with 5. Donnie Chunn, Jackson Hudson, Carter McClelland, and Brady Lee each finished with 4 stops. Caleb Ellinburg was credited with a fumble recovery.
So as the Patriots get back in the winners circle, they will take their 5-3 record to Indianola next Friday night as they play their second district game. The Patriots will finish the season with 2 district games so each contest is very important in the race for the state playoffs. Game time is set for 7 P.M. in Indianola.
Senior night upcoming
By ROBBIE FAULK
After back-to-back losses, Winston Academy was desperate to get a win and get back on track as the Patriots try to clinch the playoffs and improve its standing.
WA has struggled in the past with Wayne Academy and had to go on the road to see them last week. After losing to the Jaguars at home just before the playoffs last year, they got revenge on Friday in the 29-14 win.
It was a big one for Winston as the Patriots moved to 5-3 on the season with two games two go in the regular season. If the Pats can beat Indianola and Carrol in the final two weeks, they’ll match the seven wins that they had last season before they even go to the playoffs. It would be the most wins in the regular season for Winston since 2008 when they won 10.
The next two weeks will determine whether or not the Pats can be the No. 2 team in the district and continue to move up the playoff pecking order. Indianola will be a tough opponent and will wrap up the No. 2 spot if they can win by virtue of beating Carroll already. Indianola owns wins over the Rebels, Lee Academy, Delta Streets, Washington, Kirk and North Delta for a 6-2 record. The two losses came to Tri-County and district champs Greenville St Joseph.
After traveling to Indianola this week, the Patriots will come back home for Senior Night to close out the regular season against Carroll.
