R-S Central holds off Patton

Credit: James Lynch Jr. | The News Herald

Patton High football defenders Billy Smith, No. 7, and Will McCann, No. 62, bring down an R-S Central defender on Friday in Morganton.

By: Jason Baker | sports@morganton.com
Published: October 17, 2009

Morganton --

With the final weeks of high school football winding down, Patton High returned home looking for a win against the leaders of the South Mountain Athletic Conference, R-S Central High.
The Panthers fought and clawed on the Hilltoppers, but R-S Central pulled away in the second half for the 23-7 victory.
"I thought our kids played very hard, probably the hardest we played this year," Patton head coach JK Adkins said.
With the Hilltoppers receiving the opening kickoff, R-S Central took advantage of that first elusive drive.
Quarterback Jacob Kinlaw finished a nine-play drive with an 18-yard keeper for the 7-0 R-S Central lead.
Patton couldn't answer on their first drive as Brandon Bethel lost a fumble on a third down play.
After trading punts, the Hilltoppers produced a 13-play drive which got to Patton's seven yard line. The Panther defense was able to keep R-S Central from the endzone as they settled for a 24 yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0.
On Patton's next offensive drive, the Panthers got deep in R-S Central territory. Justin Reed capped off a 12-play drive with an eightyard touchdown run to cut the lead to 10-7 at halftime.
With Patton receiving the second half kickoff, it looked like Patton was going three-and-out on the drive, but a 15-yard roughing the punter penalty on R-S Central kept the drive alive.
The Panthers, however, couldn't produce any positive yards on the drive and was forced to punt.
R-S Central's Cameron Green became a tough force against the Patton defense on the following drive. Green tallied for 53 yards, finishing with a 10-yard run to extend R-S Central's lead to nine, 16-7.
After being forced to punt again, it went all downhill for Patton in two plays.
On R-S Central's following offensive possession Kinlaw ran a 71-yard keeper to extend the lead to 23-7.
It didn't get much better for Patton on the kickoff, from RS Central. Miscommunication on Patton's receiving team allowed the Hilltoppers to recovering the kickoff.The Panther defense was able to make up for that mistake by recovering a Hilltopper fumble.
In the fourth quarter, R-S Central was kept out of the endzone on a goal-line stand on a fourth and one play.
Patton's offensive drives stalled on a turnover on downs and a Trevor Buchanan interception.
After the game, Adkins was pleased with his team's performance.
"I was proud of the kids' effort and the way they played, as we went toe-to-toe with the best team in the conference. We can play with anybody if we can just play for four quarters."
Patton (4-5, 1-3 SMAC) looks to end their three-game losing streak and get back on the winning track next Friday at Burns High.

R-S Central holds off Patton

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