Brewer wins season opener 24-18
Mike Easterling
Special to the Enquirer
Brewer quarterback Zack Self, sweat soaked from head to toe with dirt and grass stains streaking his uniform, took a knee around midfield while waiting for an interview.
His t-shirt was torn, pulled and tugged for four quarters by a relentless Randolph defense in a 24-18 Patriots win Friday night to start the 2017 high school football season.
It’s highly likely Brewer coaches will get him another one.
After Self dragged himself to his feet, he thought for a long moment about when the Patriots last won a season opener.
“That’s a good question,’’ he said. “I’m not sure. But it feels good.’’
For the record, Brewer last won its first game a decade ago when it defeated Priceville 19-12 in overtime. The Patriots lost to Randolph 28-2 last year at home, but got to host the Raiders again because the field in Huntsville was flooded.
“It’s more motivation,’’ Self said of playing in Somerville.
History has not been kind to Brewer. The team last won as many as four games in 2013 and last had a winning season in 1999. The Patriots have just nine winning seasons since they began playing in 1972.
They aim to change the culture surrounding the program.
“This wasn’t just any old opponent,’’ third-year Brewer coach Geoff Walters said. “Just watch and see what they do in their region. We’re real proud of this win for sure. It has so much to do with heart and what we do.’’
Walters sat a handful of players, including his place-kicker, for absences leading up to the game. Neither team made an extra point.
Brewer was 0-10 in Walters’ first season and 3-7 last year.
“I just think year three of our program makes a difference,’’ Walters said. “Everybody, including me, wants to an immediate turn around but we’re content with a slow turn. But, wins are the super glue that holds everything together.’’
The Patriots fumbled 14 times and lost eight of them against Randolph in a rain-soaked 2016 opener. This time, they had no turnovers while scoring twice on defense.
Walters, while commended his team’s mettle but not so happy with his offense’s production in the red zone, was perhaps proudest of winning with players suspended.
“To be able to win and still enforce rules — that’s strong,’’ he said. “To win with integrity and standards, that’s important.’’
Randolph, coming off the school’s first two winning seasons since restarting the program, expects to contend for the Class 5A, Region 7 championship.
“It’s always good to get a little revenge,’’ Self said. “And I respect that team. they play the game the right way.’’
Self started the scoring with a 6-yard run halfway through the first quarter. A two-point attempt failed.
Randolph pulled even at 6-all one play later when Graham Copeland tossed a 57-yard touchdown pass to Brad Layton. The extra point attempt failed.
Brewer went back ahead at 12-6 when Zach Kodra recovered a fumble in the end zone. Another two-point try failed with 4:11 remaining in the first.
The Raiders made it 12-12 with 1:41 left in the first half on a 1-yard burst up the middle by Jackson Vest, who set up the score with a bruising 12-yard run. The extra point attempt was blocked.
Randolph went ahead 18-12 on a 19-yard pass from Copeland to Layton. A two-point run failed.
Orlando Whatley evened it again with a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown. A pass attempt failed, leaving the score at 18-all with 9:29 left in the game.
Brewer moved ahead for good at 24-18 when Self hit Patrick Johnson for a 14-yard score with 7:26 remaining.
Brewer hosts Westminster Friday and then entertains Oxford in a Class 6A, Region 7 opener.
“Coach Walters always tells us it’s a process,’’ Self said. “We’re building a foundation. We’re moving in the right direction.