After a Week 4 bye gave the undefeated Patriots a rest, the team returned to Heritage Field for their first home game of the year on Senior night, playing host to Trinity Christian Academy (TCA) in search of their fourth win of the year.
To kick off the game, TCA failed to generate much success on the opening drive, punting to the Patriots for their first offensive set of the night. In a drive that ate up the entire first quarter, the Patriots found themselves deep in TCA territory before turning the ball over and coming away empty. That drive would prove to be the most successful for either side for the rest of the half, as both teams kept the other in check to keep the score at 0-0 heading into the break.
To start off the second half, the Patriots received the ball and both teams continued their first-half funks, exchanging punts throughout the entirety of the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Patriots finally seemed to find some daylight, marching deep into TCA territory trying to jump on the board first. TCA stood their ground, however, forcing and blocking a Patriot field goal attempt from the 30-yard line. The remainder of the fourth saw both teams fail to travel too far into the other’s territory.
With under 30 seconds to go, however, TCA recovered a muffed punt to set up at the Heritage 15-yard line. Seconds later, TCA attempted and converted the game winning field goal to give them the 3-0 lead with zeros on the clock.
“I feel we had a rhythm,” senior QB/WR Vinson Davis said regarding the offensive performance. “I think we went down the field the way we wanted to. We just have to finish the drives. Going into next week, we just have to be playmakers.”
After their first loss of the year, the Patriots will hit the road again next Friday, Oct. 23, to face Venice and look to bounce back for their fourth win of the season.
