Patriots outlast Rams for Homecoming win
LINDEN – In a penalty-lengthened game, the Linden Patriots held on for a 14-6 Homecoming win over the Francis Marion Rams. In a game that featured more handkerchiefs than a funeral, the decisive points came when Roderick Dansby sacked the Francis Marion quarterback in the end zone for a safety with 7:46 to go in the third quarter.
Neither offense gained traction in the first quarter. The result was a scoreless first quarter that featured multiple punts and failed fourth down conversions.
The second quarter was much of the same until Graderius Brown hit Kevin Green for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 2:51 to go in the first half. The PAT was wide left and the Patriots took a 6-0 lead over the Rams.
The Rams would go three-and-out on their ensuing possession. The Patriots would threaten to score again before the half ended, but the Rams would pick off a Linden pass at their own 5-yard line to thwart the threat of more points getting on the board. The first half would end with the Patriots holding their 6-0 advantage.
The Patriots received the opening second half kickoff. After trading possessions, the Patriots downed a punt at the Rams’ 3-yard line. On the next play, Dansby got the sack in the end zone and the Patriots went ahead 8-0 with 7:46 to go in the third quarter.
After forcing the Patriots to punt after the free kick, the Rams found the end zone on a 77-yard run with 5:48 to go in the third quarter. The 2-point conversion try failed and the Rams closed the Patriot lead to 8-6.
The Patriots were forced to punt on their ensuing possession and the Rams drove to the Patriots’ 9-yard line. The Linden defense held and took over on downs at their own 8-yard line with 1:48 to go in the third quarter.
On the ensuing Rams’ possession, Patriot Johnny Blackmon picked off a pass and returned it to the Rams’ 27-yard line. With 7:28 to go in the game, Brown punched it in from a foot out. The PAT was wide left and the Patriot lead increased to 14-6.
The remaining highlights of the game were a Brown interception and Dansby’s fumble recovery with 2:43 to go, after which the Patriots would run out the clock to secure the win.
“I’m thankful for the win,” Linden head coach Demetrice Jackson said after the game. Jackson noted that the team struggled with penalties, both offensively and defensively. “Our team stood strong when it mattered. At the end of the day, they stood strong through adversity.”
The Patriots (7-0) will travel to Thomaston to take on A.L. Johnson next Friday night.
