The Winston Patriots kept hanging in there and clawing their way back, but just could not stop the greatly improved Canton Academy Panthers last Friday at Patriot Field and dropped their early season record to 0-2 while Canton improved to 2-0.
In a game that saw the Patriots with the edge in many of the statistics, the Panthers led in the main stat which was the score. Canton opened the game with possession, but both teams faced a punting situation on their first drives. Canton then started its second possession and put together an 80-yard drive for the first score, followed by the 2-point run to go up 8-0 with 3:37 left in the first quarter.
Winston followed up the next possession that was stalled after a fake punt attempt, and Canton took over near midfield as the first quarter came to an end. They then added their second score of the game on a 28-yard pass and 2-point conversion to go up 16-0 with 10:39 left before half. The Patriots then shot themselves in the foot on the next 2 possessions with a lost fumble and a pass interception to bring the first half to an end trailing 16-0.
Opening with ball ownership in the second half, the Patriots again faced a punt situation. Canton then faced a come alive Patriot defense and were stopped on a 4th down attempt at their own 40-yard line. Starting in good field position at the Panther 40, they again were stopped and forced to punt. This started a punt exchange between the two teams until the last possession of the third quarter. It was then on the last play of the third quarter that Omar Scott took it 9 yards for the Patriots first score and also added the 2-point run to cut the Canton lead to 16-8 at the start of the final period.
The Panthers then instantly erased the Patriot score with another touchdown run and 2-point run to increase their lead to 24-8 with 6:56 left in the game. Winston then was denied first down yardage on the next drive and was stopped near midfield. The Panthers then did what they needed to do to preserve their lead and used the clock to their advantage and milked the clock down to :00 to take the 24-8 non divisional victory. Winston's offense produced 210 yards compared to Canton's 245.
The rushing was led by Omar Scott with 44 yards and Winston's only touchdown. He was followed by Carson Watkins with 23 yards; The passing games saw Jett Joiner connect on 7 of 12 attempts for 120 yards while suffering 1 interception; His primary receiver was J.T. McGinnis with 81 yards on 5 receptions. He was followed by Omar Scott with 25 yards on 2 catches. One of the main stats that hurt Winston was the 3 turnovers compared to Canton's none; The defense saw Rivers Stevenson and Taylor Hudson lead the tackle list with 7 each. They were followed by Parker Carvens with 6 and Carter McClellend with 5 tackles. The Patriots will continue to face tough opponents in this early season as they travel to Jackson this week to take on non divisional powerhouse, Jackson Academy. Game time is scheduled at 7 p.m.
Winston Academy needs ball control
By Robbie Faulk
Winston County Journal
It’s been the same thing for Pat Byrd the last two weeks that has brought him the most grief with his Winston Academy football team.
Coincidentally, that same thing has also been a major contributor to two losses and an 0-2 start to the season. The Patriots aren’t taking care of the ball the way that they should, and it hurt them in a defeat to Leake Academy and especially in a 24-8 loss at home to Canton Academy.
“We’ve got to hold on to the football. You can’t turn it over six or seven times like we have. We had it inside the 20 eight times and haven’t scored and five of them we’ve been inside the 15,” Byrd said. We’re very inconsistent right now. It’s not inexperience. We’re fumbling the football, and we’ve got to do a better job of taking care of the football.”
Staring at two losses in the first two weeks the Patriots can’t afford to get their head down. The schedule continues to be tough even before district play begins, and they’ll travel all the way to Jackson to take on Class 6A Jackson Academy on Friday.
The Raiders have already started their season with two wins over familiar WA opponents Starkville Academy and Leake Academy. Both games were close and relatively low scoring, but the Raiders found a way.
“Defensively they’ll have a four-man front and are well-coached. They attack the line of scrimmage with big bodies, have two linebackers that get downhill and are good in the secondary. They’ll make you earn what you get,” Byrd said of JA. “They’ve got a 6’5 wide receiver, and the quarterback does a great job. They’re well-coached on the offensive line and do what they do. They run power and are going to throw the football.”
To get back on track and grab an upset win, it’s going to take an incredibly clean game for the Patriots. WA can’t afford to put the ball on the ground the way they have so far this year, and they have to finish drives.
There is no let up in the WA schedule, and Byrd said that it’s time for his veteran players to step up to the plate. JA will be another tough test for the group to do that.
“You’re going down there, and they’re a 6A school playing a 4A. I’m sure we’re not on their radar. I want us to play four quarters. I want us to put an offensive and defensive game together and take care of the football. We’re playing good defense, but we’ve got to eliminate the big plays,” Byrd said.
