After a slow start the Sandy Creek Patriots picked up the pace offensively to take a first-half lead and held on for a 24-17 win at home against Alabama’s Auburn High Tigers.
It was a historic night for one Patriot in particular, as senior running back Eric Swinney became the school’s all-time leading rusher early in the second quarter. He came into the game with 3,552 yards, 27 behind Phillip Hyde, and now has five regular-season games plus the postseason to add to his total.
Now 5-0, the Patriots have an off date next weekend before hosting the Whitewater Wildcats Oct. 10 in what is now a Region 5-AAAA rivalry and a possible matchup of two top-10 AAAA teams.
The game was scoreless at the end of the first quarter, which ended with Auburn at the Sandy Creek 5. The Patriots made a big fourth-down stop right there to take the ball back, and on the ensuing drive Swinney broke the record.
A few minutes later he opened the game’s scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run up the middle on third down. On the next possession Trey Walker and Christian Branch combined for a 4-yard scoring pass to make it a 14-0 game at halftime.
The Tigers got on the board with a 38-yard field goal, but the Patriots made it 21-3 on a 27-yard touchdown run by Austin Vazquez, two plays after a 59-yard pass from Walker to Korey Banks.
That was the score going into the fourth quarter, but Auburn wasn’t done. The visiting team scored on a 30-yard pass play immediately after gaining 30 yards on two dead-ball personal fouls on the same play.
The ensuing kickoff was a touchback, and Sandy Creek marched downfield from there, with the big play being a 46-yard Vazquez run right up the middle. Arnon Spaniol put the ball through the uprights from 27 yards out with 7:00 to play.
After moving the ball to midfield, the Tigers connected on a spectacular pass play that put the ball at the Patriots’ 3. Two plays later they lined up in the Wildcat formation and ran a reverse pass for a score to cut the lead to 7.
The Patriots now were looking to run out the clock, and they faced a fourth-and-1 at their own 39. This time it was Auburn’s turn to come up with the big stop, and the visitors had the ball in Sandy Creek territory with 2:50 to play and a chance to tie.
But on first down, the Auburn quarterback’s pass was intercepted by Brian Miller at the 8. The Tigers were out of timeouts, and when Swinney crossed the 20 to pick up a first down it was over.
FAYETTE COUNTY 33, CEDARTOWN 14: The Tigers (2-3) are off next week and host Carrollton Oct. 10.
CENTRAL-CARROLLTON 21, LANDMARK 7: The War Eagles (4-1) play at Rockmart next week.
McINTOSH 56, MORROW 28; The Chiefs (2-3) travel to Northgate next week.
OUR LADY OF MERCY 56, TERRELL COUNTY 22: The Bobcats (3-2) host Haralson County next week.
STARR’S MILL (2-2) is off this week and will host Drew next week.
WHITEWATER (3-1) is off this week and will host Mt. Zion-Jonesboro next week.
