Saints march on Longhorns for 301 rushing yards

LINDEN — Marengo Academy struggled to overcome a punishing Patrician ground game on the way to a 16-6 loss Thursday night.

The visiting Saints took the lead with 7:28 to play in the first half when Parker Allen bowled through would-be tacklers on his way to a 13-yard touchdown run. Caleb Bonner added the two-point conversion run to put Patrician up 8-0.

After Marengo’s ensuing drive stalled just beyond midfield, Brant Lewis launched a 43-yard punt that penned Patrician at its own 7. Nine plays later, the Saints appeared destined to add to their lead before half when Marengo Academy’s Tyler Barkley intercepted an errant Saint pass in the backfield to stop the threat, which had reached as far as the MA 28.

The Saints then took the opening kickoff of the second half and proceeded to march 79 yards on 16 plays while draining 9:37 off the game clock. The drive ended at the MA 1 when Cason Cook recovered a Patrician fumble.

“That’s been our Achilles heel right there is turnovers, especially when we are in situations where we’re about to score,