Patterson quarterback Spencer Landry
The second-ranked Lumberjacks scored on their first two offensive possessions. Standout running back Trevon Stewart opened the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown run before Kiyan Jones broke free on a 38-yard scamper with 4:39 remaining.
Berwick (0-5, 0-2), on the other hand, managed just 1 yard of offense on its first two possessions.
“Anytime we face big physical defensive teams, we struggle,” first-year Berwick coach Craig Brodie said. “We’re young, inexperienced and we just can’t match that kind of physicality now. That’s a really good football team Tommy (Minton) has over there, probably one of his best ever.”
Patterson’s defense and special teams blew the game open, scoring three times in the final three minutes of the first quarter. Defensive back LaRon Todd intercepted a Reed Leonard pass and returned it 31 yards for 21-0 Patterson lead. After losing 7 yards on first and second down, Berwick decided to punt from shotgun formation on third down. Stewart, the ’Jack’ safety, caught the punt, reversed field and dashed untouched 35 yards for a touchdown with 1:52 left in the opening quarter.
Then, PHS linebacker Tremaine Lightfoot jumped in front of another Leonard pass and raced 37 yards for the second pick-six of the quarter. Patterson led 33-0 after the first 12 minutes.
“Turnovers have hurt us all season,” Brodie said. “Most of the kids are playing two games a week and learning on the field. When you play as many freshmen and sophomores as we do, that’s all part of the learning curve.”
Stewart, a University of Houston commitment, wasn’t fooled by Berwick’s halfback pass attempt to open the second quarter and he raced 60 yards with Patterson’s third pick-six of the first half.
Berwick had better luck with the trick play last week. Bobby Boudreaux hit Brad Lemoine for a 54-yard score against Erath but the ’Jacks were prepared.
PHS quarterback Justice Jones completed 7-of-8 passes for 144 yards and two scores before going to the bench. The senior hooked up with tight end Deondre Skinner for a 4-yard touchdown and he closed out his night with a 58-yard strike to Jaydrick Declouet with 4:55 remaining for a 53-0 lead.
Patterson pulled its offensive starters on the next possession, but sophomore running back Deontay Jones wanted to show his mettle. Jones took an inside handoff, broke a couple tackles and raced 53 yards for yet another ’Jacks touchdown. Patterson led 59-0 at halftime.
“I thought it was very, very classy how he (Minton) backed off in the second quarter,” Brodie said. “This use to be a rivalry and it hasn’t been lately because we haven’t been able to beat them in so long, but that’s one of our goals, to bring the rivalry back. But the way he handled the game tonight ensures that it will always be a friendly rivalry.”
Patterson rolled up 325 yards of offense while holding Berwick to just 75 yards.
“The kids responded well tonight,” Minton said. “We got on them hard in practice this week because we didn’t play as hard as we could’ve played last week. They came out and executed on both sides of the ball and we took advantage of Berwick’s mistakes. We didn’t make too many mistakes of our own and that’s the way the game should be played. Hopefully we can carry that over through the next few weeks and on into the playoffs.”
Berwick got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when Leonard found Lee Rhodes wide open and he raced 55 yards for the touchdown.
The BHS fans, who didn’t leave during the one-sided game, gave the team a standing ovation.
“That’s one thing about our fans,” Brodie said. “They are going to stay and cheer the kids no matter what.”
Berwick will host North Vermilion (2-3, 1-1) next week in district play. N. Vermilion beat Franklin 14-6 Friday.
“I think we match up pretty good with the remainder of the teams on our schedule,” Brodie said. “We just have to continue to work hard and we can be in the mix.”
Patterson (4-0, 2-0) will host Kaplan Friday at the Sugardome. Kaplan (2-3, 1-0) beat Abbeville 41-20 Friday.
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