Linden blanks Millry for third straight shutout

September 17, 2016September 20, 2016 Jeremy D. Smith AHSAA, Alabama, Linden, Linden High School, Patriots, prep sports

09-16-16 -- Linden, Ala. -- Millry's Michael Manuel (7) is sacked by Linden's Brandon Bates (52), DeAntonio Williams (40) and Bruce McIntosh Jr., in Friday's game in Linden, Ala. The Patriots extended their three-game shutout streak, beating Millry 54-0. (WAW | Stewart Gwin) — 09-16-16 — Linden, Ala. — Millry’s Michael Manuel (7) is sacked by Linden’s Brandon Bates (52), DeAntonio Williams (40) and Bruce McIntosh Jr., in Friday’s game in Linden, Ala. The Patriots extended their three-game shutout streak, beating Millry 54-0. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

It was business as usual for Linden Friday night as the Patriots used their own unique brand of physicality to bully Millry on both sides of the ball en route to a 54-0 victory.

“We try to sell being physical and playing fast and playing physical. That’s who we are,” Linden coach Andro Williams said.

09-16-16 -- Linden, Ala. -- Linden's Jonathan Biggs (23) bats away a pass intended for Millry's Michael Manuel (7) in Friday's game in Linden, Ala. The Patriots extended their three-game shutout streak, beating Millry 54-0. (WAW | Stewart Gwin) — 09-16-16 — Linden, Ala. — Linden’s Jonathan Biggs (23) bats away a pass intended for Millry’s Michael Manuel (7) in Friday’s game in Linden, Ala. The Patriots extended their three-game shutout streak, beating Millry 54-0. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

The Patriots gave up 113 yards on defense while amassing 431 yards of their own on the way to the win. The four-quarter dominance by the Linden defense stretches the unit’s shutout streak to 15 consecutive quarters. The last points Linden allowed came when Hillcrest-Evergreen’s Brian Nettles went over the top to Joshua Jackson for a 62-yard touchdown pass just 69 seconds into the season-opener.

Friday, Linden (4-0, 3-0) opened the scoring when DeAntonio Williams scored on a 1-yard run with 9:57 left in the first quarter. Williams scored on a 64-yard sprint with 9:45 left in the second. Charles Blackmon hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Robinson to move it to 20-0. Blackmon then scored on a 5-yard run to make it 27-0 heading into the halftime intermission.

“I was real proud of our guys. I thought we picked our intensity up as the night went on. We’ve got to keep working on that and continue to get better. We’ve got to keep working on our craft and get better every day,” Williams said.

Blackmon struck again with 11:39 left in the third when he broke a 65-yard run. Xavier McIntosh added a 3-yard touchdown run and Johnathan Biggs scored from 17 yards out. Timothy Thurman Jr. capped the scoring with a 6-yard run.

The Patriots ran 28 times for 336 yards and completed 4 of 6 passes for 95 yards.

09-16-16 -- Linden, Ala. -- Linden's Makahi Williams (8) jukes Millry's Emmanuel Mitchell (32) in Friday's game in Linden, Ala. The Patriots extended their three-game shutout streak, beating Millry 54-0. (WAW | Stewart Gwin) — 09-16-16 — Linden, Ala. — Linden’s Eric Jenkins (8) jukes Millry’s Emmanuel Mitchell (32) in Friday’s game in Linden, Ala. The Patriots extended their three-game shutout streak, beating Millry 54-0. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

“We’re not reading the press, but we’re the same guys that we were last year,” Williams said of the expectations swirling around Class 1A’s No. 2 team according to the latest ASWA poll. “And we’re going to be the same guys next year. The main thing is, we’ve got to continue to work and stay sharp and crisp.”

The Patriots step out of region play next week to travel to Chatom and face Class 2A Washington County.

“I’m looking for being in a dang dogfight and a battle. They’re probably as dangerous as any other Washington County they’ve had before. It’s probably going to be a real good football team we’re going to see next Friday night,” Williams said.

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