Jaguars too much for Patriots
BY ALDO AMATO / REPORTER
TUSCALOOSA – The Bob Jones Patriots opened up their season with a tough loss to the Northridge High School Jaguars Friday night.
Despite the loss, the Patriots came right out of the gate firing on all cylinders in both the running and passing game. With a couple of nice passes by senior quarterback Tre Bates and a short burst into the end-zone, the Patriots took command on their first offensive possession.
The Northridge offense came out with their fierce running attack led by highly touted running back junior Bo Scarborough who evened up the game on the Jaguars first possession.
Patriots Head Coach Kevin Rose said Scarborough was a main factor in the game.
“He’s the best running back in America,” Rose said. “If you don’t tackle him he’s going to score.”
Both teams exchanged blows like two heavyweight fighters in the first quarter on offense. The Patriots air attack helped them gain a 14-7 lead on their second offensive possession when Bates connected with receiver Kevin Wright on a 30-yard touchdown.
The chemistry of Bates and Wright continued to shine in the first quarter as they connected for a second time and put the Patriots up 21-7 and capped of a massive offensive showing by both teams in just one quarter of play. Wright finished the first half with six catches for 103 yards and two scores.
Northridge refused to concede early on as running back DeAndre Rodgers brought the Jaguars within striking distance early on in the second quarter with a read option scamper for a touchdown and narrowed the lead 21-14. The Scarborough attack continued and got the best of a depleted Patriot defense and evened up the score at 21 points at the half.
Rose praised Wright’s first half production at halftime.
“He had a good half,” Rose said. “We need a couple more big plays from him in the second half.”
The Jaguars opened up the second half with a methodic drive and pounded the ball with Scarborough and ended their first drive with a strike to receiver James Cox. They took a 28-21 lead and followed up with another touchdown run by Scarborough to close out the third quarter with a 34-21 lead.
After a turnover on downs, the Jaguars suffocated the Patriots with another touchdown on the ground by Jaguars running back Laveres Howard that all but clinched the win for Northridge.
Kevin Wright added another receiving touchdown late but the Patriots could not recover and lost 40-30.
Rose said despite the loss, the team played well overall.
“I thought we played really well,” he said. “We were probably 28-point underdogs, but we had a chance to win all the way up until the end.”
