Linden advances to quarterfinals

NOTASULGA — Linden is in the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A playoffs for the ninth time in 10 seasons and under coach Andro Williams. The Patriots made their third round reservations Friday with a 48-15 dumping of Notasulga.

“They did a good job preparation wise. That team has played a lot of great competition. I think they’ve done a good job with the competition they’ve played all year,” Williams said. “That team has scrapped and fought. We’re in the second round of the playoffs. I don’t expect any differently.”

The Patriots jumped out to a 21-0 lead with touchdown runs from C.J. Robinson, Dequan Charleston and Deauris Jones before the Blue Devils announced their presence in the contest. C.J. Cook took a snap out of the wildcat formation late in the second quarter and broke a 65-yard touchdown run around the left side.

“They showed us a tweak in that wildcat look that we didn’t line up to right and we missed two tackles. We just have to do the little things. We’ll be fine if we do that,” Williams said of the play.

His Patriots missed little else the rest of the way. Robinson scored from a yard out in the third before hitting Charles Blackmon for a 19-yard touchdown pass. DeAntonio Wiliams then added a pair of touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to stretch the advantage to 48-7. Notasulga added a touchdown with 12 seconds left on a TraDarius Ezell 15-yard run.

Linden tallied 187 yards passing and 162 yards rushing in a game that never saw the punt unit take the field for the Patriots. Blackmon led the way with 123 yards from scrimmage while also amassing 10 tackles including three for loss and a sack. Robinson accounted for all 187 yards passing for the Patriots and intercepted a pass on defense.

Linden (12-0) advances to host Georgiana next Friday in the third round.