While the New England Patriots and New York Jets were getting it on several hundred miles to the northeast, a couple of local teams put on their own version of Thursday night football with great success.
SANDY CREEK 31, TROUP 21: The Patriots (7-0, 2-0) rallied in the second half to extend their regular-season unbeaten streak to 56 and pick up another key region win.
The Tigers (3-4, 0-2) scored first on an interception return but Sandy Creek got a touchdown early in the second quarter on an Eric Swinney run and added a field goal a few minutes later to take a four-point lead. A Troup touchdown shortly before halftime put the Patriots behind 13-10 at the break, but they took the second-half kickoff and marched right down the field to set up another Swinney touchdown run.
Drezyn Parson scored on a 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter for a 24-13 lead, but Troup kept it close by connecting on a 50-yard pass play on third and long to set up another touchdown.
The Tigers had one final shot, down three points with about four minutes to play, with the ball after a Sandy Creek punt. But Josh Greene picked off a pass and took it in for the final score of the game.
Sandy Creek hosts Woodward next Friday.
STARR’S MILL 55, MORROW 8: Homecoming night was extra special for the Panthers (4-3, 3-1), who remain in the thick of the Region 4-AAAAA race after a huge win over the Mustangs (1-7, 0-5) in a game that was never close.
Stone Kasten’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Dion Munerlyn put the Panthers on the scoreboard. A 4-yard run by Rico Frye and a 40-yard pass reception by Marcel Ray made it 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Frye scored on a 39-yard run and Kasten took it in from 6 yards out before halftime, although Morrow finally got a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
In the third quarter Frye scooped up a fumble and pitched it back to Kasten, who connected with Munerlyn for a 14-yard score. Later in the period the Panthers’ defense got a score when Cole Gilley picked off a Morrow pass and took it 38 yards into the end zone.
Dre Davis scored on an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter to cap off the win.
Starr’s Mill faces Mundy’s Mill at Twelve Oaks Stadium in Lovejoy next Friday.
