Pats can’t keep up with Cats
Richard Hollingsworth
Special to the Enquirer
The Brewer Patriots lost a hard fought contest 53-25 to the Cullman Bearcats Friday night in a 5A, Region 6 game at Tucker Stadium.
Cullman scored first on a 20-yard run by Drew Johnson with 8:09 remaining in the first quarter.
Brewer’s first possession ended in a blocked kick, recovered by Cullman on the Patriot 25. Two plays later, Garrett Crider took the handoff from Houston Turner and scampered 25 yards for the TD. The extra point was no good, and Cullman now led 13-0 with 5:15 left in the first quarter.
Crider added another score with 5:15 left in the quarter, this time a 3-yard touchdown run by Crider. The Bearcats led 19-0 going into the second quarter.
Brewer got on the board with a well-executed double pass. Weston Pritchett threw a lateral to Josh Wilson, who then threw a perfect 44-yard strike to Louis Daugette with 11:40 to go in the 2nd quarter. Cullman’s lead was cut to 13. Hunter Griffin’s PAT was blocked. Cullman now led 19-6.
Cullman made it 26-6 on a 9-yard run by Drew Johnson with 9:38 left in the half.
The Patriots got their second score on a 40-yard run by Devon Green with 5:40 left in the second quarter. The PAT by Griffin cut the lead to 26-13.
Cullman’s last score of the first half was on a 42- yard pass to Ethan Holmes with 3:31 left in the half. Cullman took a 32-13 lead into halftime.
Cullman scored again on a 33-yard run by Zachary Crocker, giving Cullman a 40-13 lead at the 3:30 mark of the third quarter. The Cats scored again on a 9-yard pass from Tyler Glenn to Thomas Keary and with 7:34 remaining in the third quarter, Cullman held a commanding 47-13 lead.
Brewer added its third TD on that same double pass play involving Pritchett, Wilson and Daugette with 5:33 left in the third quarter, making it 47-19.
Cullman’s final score came on a 13-yard pass from Keaton Dean to Auston Neal with 3:09 left in the third quarter.
Brewer rallied in the final minutes to score again on an 11-yard pass from Griffin to Daugette with 2:31 remaining in the game. Brewer tried a two-point conversion.
On Friday, Brewer plays at Walker and Cullman will host an important region game with Mortimer Jordan.