Brewer evens record with win at West Point
By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
CULLMAN – Brewer's Patriots were impressive on both offense and defense as they defeated West Point's Warriors 21-7 on the road Friday night and picked up their first region win of the season. Their overall record is 2-2.
"I'm really proud of our defense. It stepped up tonight," said Brewer coach Billy Coleman. "These kids fought hard to win and have every reason to celebrate."
"We knew coming it it was going to be tough. I have to give West Point credit. They played hard and never gave up."
"Give Brewer credit," West Point head coach Michael Simmons said. "They capitalized on the breaks. We had chances but couldn't get the job done."
The second time the Patriots had the ball they covered 72 yards in two plays, scoring on an explosive 57-yard run by running back Dylan Whisenant. Wesley Brasher kicked the extra point to give his team a 7-0 lead with 6:56 left in the first quarter.
"I worked hard in practice all week and I wanted to come into this game and run the ball hard," Whisenant said after the game. "On my first touchdown run, I had daylight when I turned the corner, but four or five of them (Warriors) met me around midfield. They stood me up and knocked me around some but I was able to twist away and find a running lane down the sideline."
The Patriots ran into trouble on their first possession when they fumbled and lost the ball to the Warriors on their own 40-yard line. Six plays later they got the ball back on their own 28-yard line thanks to a strong defensive stand.
A 50-yard drive in 10 plays produced Brewer's second touchdown. Whisenant capped the drive by scoring on an 8-yard run with 4:28 left in the first half. The score remained at 13-0 after a 2-point conversion attempt failed.
West Point answered by marching 62 yards in seven plays and scoring on a 22-yard run by Latterick Williams with 1:06 left in the first half. Cody Brunkenhoefer added the extra point to make the score 13-7. Williams carried the ball five other times in the drive for 28 yards.
The Patriots increased their lead to 21-7 early in the third quarter after taking advantage of a minus 4-yard punt that gave them the ball 28 yards from the end zone. Dickerson took the ball in from 1 yard out with 6:37 left in the third period. A pass from Dickerson to Zack Graham was good for a 2-point conversion.
The Warriors responded with a drive that covered 73 yards in 17 plays but produced no points. The Patriots got the ball back on their own 1-yard line after a fourth-and-goal running play was stopped for no gain.
West Point had two other aborted drives in the final quarter. Anthony Muggeo stopped one of them on the 19-yard line when he intercepted a Luke Persall pass on the goal line and returned it 7 yards and the other ended at the Brewer 12-yard line after Persall was flushed out of the pocket on a fourth-and-14 play and stopped 7 yards short of a first down.
Whisenant paced the Patriots on offense with 83 yards rushing on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns. Phillip Newby had 58 yards on five carries.
Williams led West Point in rushing with 62 yards on nine carries.
Brewer hosts Hayden Friday at 7 p.m. in a non-region game.
