Pinewood senior Lane Miller galloped for two late fourth-quarter touchdowns to help the Patriots put away a determined Bulloch Academy squad 19-0 at Gator Alley Friday night.
Miller scored on runs of 72 and 41 yards and finished with 174 yards rushing as the scores put the final nails in the coffin of the feisty BA bunch.
Outmanned and overpowered, Bulloch (0-1) used aggressive defensive tactics, such as multiple-player blitzes, to hold its own against the powerful squad for the majority of the night. But two fourth-quarter turnovers spelled Bulloch’s doom.
With PCA (2-0) holding a slim 7-0 leading going into the fourth quarter, BA defensive back Will Powell intercepted a tipped ball at the BA 34. The Gators launched an eight-play drive down to the PCA 32. But as fullback David Poole hit the line on the ninth play, the ball squirted loose and was recovered by Patriot defensive back Will Jarriel at the 28.
Three plays later, Miller shook loose from a hard-charging Nathan Brown in the backfield, dodged a couple more Gator defenders and broke loose for the 72-yard score at the 5:43 mark.
On the ensuing kickoff, Bulloch quarterback Jordan Walker hit receiver Will Powell on a 28-yard strike to the PCA 49. A roughing-the-passer penalty on PCA nullified an interception with 3:38 left and Bulloch had the ball at the Pinewood 40. But Walker’s next attempt was caught by PCA’s Jarriel. On the night, the Pinewood defender had three interceptions and a fumble recovery as well as close to 100 yards in return yardage.
Five plays later, Miller again broke free, this time for the 41-yard scamper, to score with 1:27 left in the fourth and add insult to injury for the Gators.
Bulloch came out in the opening quarter looking like world beaters against the heavily-favored Patriots. A couple of quick first downs gave BA the momentum on offense but the opening drive stalled. Defensively, the Gators stymied the bigger and strong Pats, turning them away on three plays in the first series.
Late in the quarter, BA defensive tackle Corey Owens recovered a Dalton Crews fumble at the BA 5 to keep PCA out of the end zone. The Bulloch offense couldn’t get punch the ball into the end zone but the Bulloch defense was doing its best not to let the Patriots into the promised land.
The Gators held on two fourth-down conversions attempts in the second. Walker batted a pass away from receiver on a fourth-and-10 at the BA 26 to stop a drive. Noseguard Michael Kimbrell recovered a fumble on a fourth-and-six situation at the BA 21.
But Pinewood finally breached the Gator defense on its next possession. Pinewood punt returners had a field day with Bulloch’s coverage all game long. Late in the second quarter, Jarriel returned a David Poole punt for 27 yards to the BA 28. Four plays later, Brandon Oliver blasted in from five yards out with 1:23 left in the first half to break the deadlock.
A scoreless third quarter saw more Gator defensive glory as Bulloch stopped two more PCA fourth-down tries. Powell had a pass breakup on a fourth-and-long and Kimbrell and linebacker Michael Deloach teamed up for a powerful stop on a fourth-and-six. Defensive end Drew Cheshire and defensive tackle Ben Newton also help lead the Gator defense.
Miller scored on runs of 72 and 41 yards and finished with 174 yards rushing as the scores put the final nails in the coffin of the feisty BA bunch.
Outmanned and overpowered, Bulloch (0-1) used aggressive defensive tactics, such as multiple-player blitzes, to hold its own against the powerful squad for the majority of the night. But two fourth-quarter turnovers spelled Bulloch’s doom.
With PCA (2-0) holding a slim 7-0 leading going into the fourth quarter, BA defensive back Will Powell intercepted a tipped ball at the BA 34. The Gators launched an eight-play drive down to the PCA 32. But as fullback David Poole hit the line on the ninth play, the ball squirted loose and was recovered by Patriot defensive back Will Jarriel at the 28.
Three plays later, Miller shook loose from a hard-charging Nathan Brown in the backfield, dodged a couple more Gator defenders and broke loose for the 72-yard score at the 5:43 mark.
On the ensuing kickoff, Bulloch quarterback Jordan Walker hit receiver Will Powell on a 28-yard strike to the PCA 49. A roughing-the-passer penalty on PCA nullified an interception with 3:38 left and Bulloch had the ball at the Pinewood 40. But Walker’s next attempt was caught by PCA’s Jarriel. On the night, the Pinewood defender had three interceptions and a fumble recovery as well as close to 100 yards in return yardage.
Five plays later, Miller again broke free, this time for the 41-yard scamper, to score with 1:27 left in the fourth and add insult to injury for the Gators.
Bulloch came out in the opening quarter looking like world beaters against the heavily-favored Patriots. A couple of quick first downs gave BA the momentum on offense but the opening drive stalled. Defensively, the Gators stymied the bigger and strong Pats, turning them away on three plays in the first series.
Late in the quarter, BA defensive tackle Corey Owens recovered a Dalton Crews fumble at the BA 5 to keep PCA out of the end zone. The Bulloch offense couldn’t get punch the ball into the end zone but the Bulloch defense was doing its best not to let the Patriots into the promised land.
The Gators held on two fourth-down conversions attempts in the second. Walker batted a pass away from receiver on a fourth-and-10 at the BA 26 to stop a drive. Noseguard Michael Kimbrell recovered a fumble on a fourth-and-six situation at the BA 21.
But Pinewood finally breached the Gator defense on its next possession. Pinewood punt returners had a field day with Bulloch’s coverage all game long. Late in the second quarter, Jarriel returned a David Poole punt for 27 yards to the BA 28. Four plays later, Brandon Oliver blasted in from five yards out with 1:23 left in the first half to break the deadlock.
A scoreless third quarter saw more Gator defensive glory as Bulloch stopped two more PCA fourth-down tries. Powell had a pass breakup on a fourth-and-long and Kimbrell and linebacker Michael Deloach teamed up for a powerful stop on a fourth-and-six. Defensive end Drew Cheshire and defensive tackle Ben Newton also help lead the Gator defense.
