BY WIL CREWS
SPORTSCREWS@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA —
The Southern Christian Patriots fell, 33-18, to the East Central Patriots on the road last Friday night.
The loss moves the hometown Patriots to 1-3 on the season. The memory of the loss will no doubt frustrate the players and head coach Jason Scott, as the Patriots blew a fourth quarter lead for the second straight week.
“This is the second game in as many weeks that we had control of the game going into the fourth quarter, and then through a string of questionable calls we end up losing the game,” Scott said. “It really gets your guys down when it is so one-sided.”
Southern Christian held an 18-10 lead heading into the final quarter of Friday’s matchup. The Patriots were led by a connection from Josiah Frick and Jagger Scott. Frick finished 4-of-8 passing for 159 and two touchdowns, while Jagger hauled in four passes for 108 yards and one touchdown. Other statistical leaders included: sophomore Auron Tanguma — who caught the second of Frick’s touchdown passes — and Jedd Scott, who tallied 36 reception yards.
Ultimately, a 23-point fourth quarter from East Central spelled the end for Southern Christian. And despite some grief from the questionable calls that resulted in 11 penalties for 73 yards, the Patriots will look to grow from the loss.
“My boys played to the bitter end and didn’t let off those guys until that buzzer hit zero,” Scott said. “I’m really proud of them and their character for coming through such a tough storm and keeping it all together. We’re still very young, but we have matured dramatically these last two losses.”