W.W. King may have won 32-20, but Patrick Henry gave them a run for their money. Patrick Henry Academy came much closer to winning than final score indicated. Patrick Henry Academy had its way with WW. King in the first half, taking a 20-8 lead into the locker room.
"Our game plan after viewing their film was just to pound Austin right at them because their defense has so much team speed," said coach Mike McCoy.
Once again Rowell had an outstanding night running the football. He notched 306 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries. This was Rowell's ninth consecutive game rushing for over 200 yards.
Grant Youmans scored the Patriots other touchdown.
It appeared that the Patriots would hold the Knights scoreless through halftime, but the W.W. King's Daniel Dorn broke loose on a 35-yard scoring run with less than one minute to go, which cut the Patriots' lead to 20-8.
"King began pitching the ball to the tailback to score just before the half," said McCoy.
The Patriots took the second half kickoff and appeared to have regained their first half dominance, but a goal line fumble gave the ball back to King.
The Patriots lost key players Jason Davis and Jacob Barnes to leg cramps in the second half. Barnes and Davis both man a three-man linebacker core along with Paul Daniel DeLoach.
"It is hard to play defense when two of the three linebackers are out of the game for much of the second half," said MCoy. "We need to try to figure out how to control these leg cramps, practice may need to be altered to see if our team can be in better shape in the second half."
The Knights took advantage of the Patriots' weaknesses and scored on the turnover,
which cut the Patriots' lead 20-16. In the fourth quarter the Knights' Devin Bedenbough
scored his third touchdown to give the Knights a 24-20 lead. The Patriots were unable to
score in the fourth quarter and turned the ball over on downs. W.W. King scored a late
touchdown to seal their 32-20 road win.

The Standouts
Joseph Wilson and Cody Youmans were called on to fill in for the injured linebackers.
Youmans and Rowell ran hard all night behind the offensive line and the fullback tandem of Barnes, C.J. Sheffield and DeLoach. Sheffield led in tackles with 10 and also had one fumble recovery followed by Barnes and Davis with five.
"C.J. Sheffield and Gibson Wall both had a big game against King's option attack," said McCoy. "Wall also had a big day with his fellow offensive linemen Koty Smith, McKinley Ready and ends, Davis and Cody Youmans."
McCoy said Cone Taylor came in at the nose guard position and had a big game with two tackles as well.
"Cone gave us a lift defensively when he entered the game," said McCoy.

Up Next
The Patriots now face rival Jefferson Davis Academy on the road. The two teams scrimmaged the second week of August and McCoy said Jefferson Davis was much bigger and stronger than the Patriots.
"Jefferson Davis Academy's line is much bigger than ours and they move their feet very well, they also have good skilled players," said McCoy. "Their quarterback is very talented, has good speed and runs option well. We will have to alter the game plan. We won't be able to run at Jefferson Davis' defense the way we have the past two weeks against W.W. King and Greenwood Christian. "
Although Jefferson Davis isn't in PHA's region, it is a rivalry game and McCoy plans on having his team ready for a fight.
"Jefferson Davis will get up for us because it is a rivalry game and I feel certain we should do the same," said McCoy.