Patriots knock off mighty Raiders 12-7

In a game that was noticed among the top 10 games this week in the state of Mississippi and the biggest game between MPSA foes, the Patriots traveled to Grenada, Mississippi to take on a traditional power house in Kirk Academy. The two teams came into the game both undefeated in the early season but unfortunately for the home team, they left with their first loss. Winston was given many oppurtunities to put the game away but was plagued with many mistakes offensively. The game was dominated by the defense on both teams and fittingly was ended on a defensive interception by Austin Harrison. Both teams stalled on their first possession but Tyler Dalton and Dillon Morgan ended that on the ensuing possession. Dalton launched the ball down the field to a covered Morgan who made the catch over his defender for a 50 yard score. Dillion though usually a guy who never misses an extra point sent one wide left and the Patriots took a 6-0 lead to the second quarter. Kirk would answer later in the quarter with a touchdown after their offense took the field off a Dalton interception. They would get the ball back right before halftime and on a pass completion, second string safety Channing Bucklew was hit and the leg and seriously injured. He was eventually carried by ambulence to the Grenada County Hospital and could be out for the year. The Patriots came back to hold them on the drive on fourth down that ended the half and the Patriots trailed 7-6. In the second half, the Patriots marched the ball downfield to the 20 where T.D. found Morgan on a short pass that turned into a big gain down to the 2 yard line. But the Patriots stalled and Morgan was forced to kick what turned into the game winner for the Patriots. From then on out the Patriot defense allowed very little and no points whatsoever and the Patriots would clinch the game with a 38 yard field goal with 1 min. remaining. The Patriots made sure they had the game won on the Kirk possession as Channing Martin overthrew his receiver down field and Austin Harrison was waiting to pull that in. The Patriots improved to 3-0 and Kirk fell to 2-1. The Patriots now turn to Conference play for the first time as they travel to Madden to take on the always tough Leake Rebels in their final game of their 3 game road trip.