Brewer winless after lead slips away
By Staff
ByKerrick Whisenant, For the Hartselle Enquirer
FLORETTE - Injuries and penalties finally caught up with Brewer Friday night as Hayden escaped with a 27-20 victory over the Patriots, who led for most of the game.
Brewer fell to 0-2 in Class 5A, Region 7 play. The Patriots are 0-3 overall.
Winning the toss, Brewer’s senior return man, Tyreik Wilson, returned the opening kick 96 yards for a touchdown, running the last 60 yards with only one shoe.
But an off the play block in the back would not go uncalled and the Patriots would have to settle with scoring on their sixth play from scrimmage on a 9-yard run by Wilson and a point after by Kyle Downs.
Brewer scored again in the second quarter when Tyler Parker completed an 82-yard touchdown pass to Wilson. With Downs executing another PAT, the Patriots led 14-0.
Hayden gained some momentum, scoring twice inside three minutes remaining in the first half. Jordan Buckner on a two yard run scored with 2:49 remaining and Isaac Veitch ran it in from the 1-yard line with only 14 seconds left in the half.
Two-point conversion attempts after each score were unsuccessful, and Brewer held the lead at the half 14-12.
The score remained the same until late in the fourth quarter. Wildcat quarterback Reese Butts was forced to scramble on a third and long play from the Hayden 45-yard line and avoided five or six would-be tacklers for a touchdown. The play was surrounded by controversy on the field and confusion in the crowd.
During the play, Brewer safety Tyler Parker was flagged for a block below the waist and afterward the Hayden player receiving the block drew a personal foul penalty, but the play was allowed to stand.
The Patriots incurred 10 penalties for 75 yards to Hayden’s three penalties for 25 yards.
Injuries also plagued Brewer as Phillip Newby left the game in the first quarter with complications from a bruised hip suffered earlier in the week. Kyle Downs suffered a mild to medium sprain of the MCL during a kick return in the second quarter.
Newby is scheduled to return this week, while Downs is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.
Gullion also expressed his appreciation for the great crowd attending the game and all the fans tailgating and supporting the team.
Brewer will travel to Erwin High School in Center Point this Friday. The Patriots’ next home game will be October 2nd when they host Springville.
All games may be heard live on wkul.com at 6:45 p.m.
