Patriots clinch 1A, Region 1 title with win over Panthers

October 15, 2016October 15, 2016 Stewart Gwin AHSAA, class 1a, class 1a region 1, Linden, linden football, Linden High School, Linden Patriots, marengo football, Marengo High, Marengo High School, Marengo Panthers, Panthers, Patriots, region 1

10-14-16 -- Linden, Ala. -- Linden's Dequan Charleston (7) runs past Marengo's Daryl McIntosh (28) during the Patriots' win over the Panthers. — 10-14-16 — Linden, Ala. — Linden’s Dequan Charleston (7) runs past Marengo’s Daryl McIntosh (28) during the Patriots’ win over the Panthers.

It was a three-hour game of physicality Friday as the Linden Patriots hosted the Marengo High Panthers for the intra-county rivalry. The Patriots’ ability to score on offense, defense, and special teams helped lift them to a 56-22 victory as they clinched the Class 1A, Region 1 title.

The Panthers took the opening possession and drove across midfield to the Linden 42-yard line, but the Patriot defense stood strong and forced a 4^th-and-3 situation. An offside call set the Panthers back five, creating a 4^th-and-8 and forcing a 13-yard punt.

10-14-16 -- Linden, Ala. -- Marengo High's Quindaris Ausborne makes a leaping catch during the Panthers' game against Linden. — 10-14-16 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo High’s Quindaris Ausborne makes a leaping catch during the Panthers’ game against Linden.

The Patriots took possession on their own 34-yard line and would strike first when Xavier McIntosh capped the 66-yard scoring drive on a 9-yard rush for a touchdown at the 2:04 mark in the first quarter.

C.J. Robinson would be the next Patriot to add to the board when he found the end zone on a 2-yard quarterback keeper, giving his team a 14-point lead with 8:17 to play in the second.

Facing a 4^th-and-long, Davontae Poole batted down a Panther punt, and sophomore Graderius Brown scooped and scored from 34 yards out giving the Pats a 21-0 lead with 5:34 remaining in the second quarter.

The Panthers’ first trip to the end zone came at the 3:01 mark, when Calvin Ferguson punched it in from 4 yards out. The PAT failed, and the Panthers trailed by 15.

Gaining some momentum, Marengo put eight more on the board when Quidaris Ausborne picked up a Linden fumble and took it 50 yards for a touchdown. A two-point screen pass to De’Angelos Crispin made it 21-14 with 0:51 to play in the half.

A short four seconds later, Linden’s Isaiah Scott picked up the Panther onside kick attempt, taking it 55 yards for a touchdown and extending the lead to 28. At the half, Linden led, 28-14.

Linden’s deferred decision gave them the first possession of the second half, and Charles Blackmon Jr.,

10-14-16 -- Linden, Ala. -- Marengo High's De'Angelos Crispin (4) makes a catch over Linden High's Jonathan Biggs (23) during the Panthers game against the Patriots. — 10-14-16 — Linden, Ala. — Marengo High’s De’Angelos Crispin (4) makes a catch over Linden High’s Jonathan Biggs (23) during the Panthers game against the Patriots.

added to the lead when he found the end zone on a 26-yard reception from C.J. Robinson. Linden opted to go for two and converted successfully, making it 36-14 at the 10:31 mark in the third.

Facing a 4^th-and-long, Marengo attempted to convert but Linden’s Isaiah Scott came up with an interception, initiating the drive that would end when Blackmon again crossed the goal line, this time from 5 out, making it 43-14 with 9:39 remaining in the game.

With 6:22 to play, a mishandled Panther snap on a 4^th-and-13 play gave the Patriots the ball at the Panther 21-yard line. Capitalizing on excellent field position, the Pats handed the ball off to Brown, giving him his second touchdown of the night when he hit the end zone from 12 yards out. With only 4:15 remaining in the game, Linden had a decisive lead at 50-14.

Not to be outdone, Marengo’s Ausborne took the ensuing kick 92 yards to put another six on the board, the first kickoff return for touchdown Linden has allowed this year. The Panthers’ two-point conversion was successful, making it 50-22 with 3:58 to go.

On their final possession of the night, the Patriots’ Scott took a 12-yard trek through enemy territory, shaking off two Panthers and stiff-arming another en route to the final touchdown of the night. A failed PAT made the final 56-22.

“We’ve just got to be more focused and not make the bonehead mistakes we made tonight,” said Marengo head coach Eberne Myrthil. “Those mistakes that we made tonight are the things that a good football team like Linden will capitalize on.”

The Patriots put up 399 yards of total offense to Marengo’s 194. While Linden found its success on the ground with 38 rushes for 289 yards, the Panthers’ success came through the air as they racked up 128 yards completing 7 of 14 attempts.

Eric Jenkins led the Patriot offensive with three carries for 87 yards, followed by Xavier McIntosh who brought in 12 carries for 75 yards.

“We find a way to score in our specialty game every week,” said Patriots head coach Andro Williams. “We scored in all three phases of the game, and that’s what we talked about all week. Moving forward, when we get in those games where it’s locked up scoreless, that gives us a weapon so we can find a way to score.”

Linden (8-0, 6-0) goes on to face J.F. Shields next Friday, while Marengo (5-3, 4-2) will host McIntosh.

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