The long drive to Natchez was even longer on the way home as the Winston Patriots dropped out of the playoff picture, following their 44-18 loss to the Natchez Cathedral Green Wave.
Entering the game as the number 11 seed against the number 6 seed Green Wave, the Patriots had earned their first playoff game since 2012, but the high powered rushing attack of the Green Wave was a little too much to handle as they rushed for 388 yards as compared to Winston's 58.
Natchez got on the board first after a 45 yard interception return with 9:24 expired in the opener. The Patriots then answered back when Beamon took in from 5 yards out after a Will Catt interception at the Winston 43 yard line set up the scoring drive. Natchez counter scored right back with a score to go back up 13-6 with 3:38 left in the first quarter. The following Patriot drive ended in an interception near mid field. Winston's defense then stopped them short of the goal line to set up a field goal attempt that was no good to start the second quarter.
The Green Wave would add another score before intermission to take a 19-6 at half. They would then come back out on the opening drive and add another score on a 41 yard run to increase their lead to 25-6. After a botched fake punt by the Patriots, the Green Wave started another scoring drive from the Winston 49 yard line that ended after on a 4 yard scoring run. With the PAT continuing to be missed, they had built a comfortable lead at 31-6 with 10:46 remaining in the third. The Patriots then showed a sign of life when Brylee Wall found Cage Palmer open down the sideline for a 53 yard scoring pass. The try for 2 failed but Winston had cut the lead to 31-12. To start the final period of play, the Green Wave broke open on a 54 yard scoring run to build their lead to 38-12 with 11:54 left to play. A following Winston fumble set up another Natchez score with a 43 yard touchdown run the almost put a nail in the coffin to send the score to 44-12 with 9:07 remaining. Winston then put a scoring drive of their own together behind the running and passing of Jett Joiner. With only seconds left on the clock, Joiner took it in for his first high school score from 4 yard out with the PAT failing and ending all scoring with the 44-18 loss.
So as the rushing attack sputtered during the contest, they were led by Jett Joiner with 33 yard and an score and older brother Jackson Joiner with 27 yards. J.J. Beamon added 20 yards and a rushing touchdown. The passing game saw Brylee Wall finish with 160 yards and a touchdown pass will suffering 2 interceptions. Jett Joiner added 30 yards in passing. The leading receivers were Cage Palmer with 172 yards and a touchdown reception and Johnson Wells with 20 receiving yards. The defense saw Curry Black lead the charge with 9 tackles, followed by Jackson Joiner with 7 stops.
Tanner Boatner made 6 tackle as well as Johnson Wells with 6 and a fumble recovery. So as the senior players and cheerleaders finish their high school career in a way they had not wanted, they will always be remembered and missed. We thank them for their contributions and support of the Patriots. So as the old saying "it ain't over till the fat lady sings", it is now official. It has been a pleasure to report the football action of the Winston Patriots during the 2019 season, and until next year, the" THE FAT LADY HAS SUNG." !!!
WA football
program makes big strides in 2019
By Robbie Faulk
Winston County Journal
A year after winning two games and producing single digits points in five of the 10 games with two shutouts, Winston Academy took a giant leap forward in 2019.
There was only one more win than the season prior, of course, but a closer look dictates just how much improvement was made. The Patriots were shutout in the opening game against Leake Academy, but the offense went on to 13 or more points in every game the rest of the way. Additionally, the Patriots earned their first district win in three years and made the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
WA eventually dropped a 44-18 game to Natchez Cathedral on the road last Friday, but head coach Pat Byrd saw plenty that excites him for the future.
“The talent was a little better than what film indicated. They were bigger and faster, we just got beat by a better football team,” Byrd said of the Cathedral game. “Our kids gave effort, but we didn’t have answers in some spots.”
Eight seniors played their final high school games on Friday night and the Patriots will lose offensive and defensive standouts. However, there’s talent coming up through the ranks and returning that should have the Patriots making more strides next season as well.
“You’ve got just about every lineman back out. We lose one from the offensive and defensive line and that’s a positive,” Byrd said. “In the fourth quarter on Friday, we had seven or eight freshman playing defensively and it wasn’t mop-up duty. We’ve got to replace some good seniors, but I like what we’ve got coming in.”
One of the key players that Byrd has to build his team around is quarterback Brylee Wall. The talented 6’2, 190-pound gunslinger made progress this year as a first-year, full-time starter. He threw for nearly 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns this season and has talent around him to put up even bigger numbers next year.
There’s also players coming up from junior high that will improve the entire roster’s numbers.
“The quarterback got better throughout the year. He played as a freshman last year and ran for his life, but this year he did a lot of things well. He’s still got a lot of things to improve on, but I see a bright future there,” Byrd said. “Johnson Wells, if we can keep him healthy, has a chance to be a really good player on both sides of the ball. We’ve got 14 freshmen that are about to be sophomores. The numbers are good and we’ll go from 36 to over 40 kids.”
Needless to say, Byrd likes the direction his program is headed. Byrd spent most his career coaching in the Mississippi High School Activities Association but he’s now settling into his head coaching duties in private school and building his program at WA.
He credits the work of his staff, but most importantly his players for continuing to build things the right way as they try to get WA back to championship quality.
“I thought we made some good strides this year and brighter days are ahead,” Byrd said. “Our eight seniors did a good job of laying a solid. You’ll win or lose football games based on what you do from February to December. We’re going to have to learn to deal with adversity. We’ve just got to keep plugging.”
