William Fleming ran the ball on fourth-and-goal from the 6-yard line but was stopped short of the goal line. A deep pass into the end zone was intercepted by Fred Calloway. Back-to-back plays from inside the red zone resulted in sacks.
For four quarters, the Colonels did everything they could to score a touchdown, but Patrick Henry was there to halt them every time. Two points were all they could muster as the Patriots reclaimed the Mayor’s Cup on Friday at Merrill Gainer Field in Roanoke.
“It’s a big game. It means a lot to the kids,” PH head coach Alan Fiddler said. “It’s means a lot to the community, so it was awesome to get the win.”
The rivalry game, a 5 p.m. kickoff, also came as the home opener for the Patriots, who debuted new all-black jerseys. Their defense, which knocked opposing quarterback Jycer Preston for six sacks, has allowed just 26 points all season and moved to 4-0 after a 2-2 start last year.
Patrick Henry has won the Mayor’s Cup, officially the Noel C. Taylor Classic, 13 out of the last 15 meetings.
“It’s good to be 4-0,” Fiddler said. “You look at our schedule starting out these first four games, telling us we’re going to be 4-0, that’s a huge accomplishment. We’ve played four really good teams.”
Damarion Perdue was named MVP of the contest. The senior running back rushed for 116 yards on 26 carries and scored both of the the Patriots’ touchdowns, a 14-yard power carry in the first quarter and a 4-yard diving score with 33 seconds to play before halftime.
“It’s special. Coming from last year, transferring, not getting in that much and then coming in this year and doing what I’ve got to do. Coming from a loss last year, too, it’s good to get it back. It feels good.”
PH quarterback Jake Painter completed 13 of 23 passes for 181 yards and no turnovers. Syracuse commit Cameron Hairston-Taylor collected 139 yards on eight receptions. Vaughn Little had two sacks on defense.
The lone points for Fleming, now 2-2, came after an unsuccessful fourth-and-goal rush pinned Patrick Henry at its own 3-yard line. On a third-and-8, Painter was pressured by Jovanny Gonzalez and spiked the ball into the turf as he was tackled in the end zone. The official huddled and ruled the play intentional grounding, resulting in a safety. The play came with 7:44 left in the third quarter.
Preston finished 3-of-12 for 37 yards and had 14 carries for 30 yards for the Colonels, who whipped the Patriots in last year’s rivalry showdown. Zhiy Steelman ran for 109 yards on 14 carries, and fullback Davion Faulkner added 35 yards on 10 carries.
“We didn’t execute offensively very well,” We had some missed opportunities. (Patrick Henry) plays good defense, I’m not knocking them at all, we just didn’t execute well in the first half and in the second half we came out and did a lot better, we just had some missed opportunities.”
Patrick Henry hosts Hidden Valley (0-3) next Friday. William Fleming is off and will George Washington-Danville (2-1) on Oct. 3.
Contact Matt Case at mcase@roanoke.com
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