Saturday, August 28, 2010
Solid start for PH
The Patriots completely dominate the second half and run all over Hidden Valley.
DON PETERSEN | Special to The Roanoke Times
Patrick Henry's Zach Cochran (3) dives into the end zone in front of Hidden Valley defender Dee Fletcher for the Patriots' second of four fourth-quarter touchdowns during Friday's season-opening game. Patrick Henry defeated Hidden Valley, 35-7. The Titans led 7-0 at halftime.
DON PETERSEN Special to The Roanoke Times
Patrick Henry's Xavier Whorley scores a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against Hidden Valley on Friday. The Patriots won, 35-7. Whorley totaled 40 yards rushing on five carries for PH.
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Who said the spread is for passing?
Certainly not Patrick Henry on Friday night.
PH took every snap in the no-huddle shotgun formation, but the Patriots forgot about the air lanes and stayed grounded in a 35-7 season-opening victory at home over Hidden Valley.
Patrick Henry piled up 251 yards rushing in the second half and 345 overall as the Group AAA team overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit with four touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
"People have this misconception about me that I'm just going to throw it all over the place," second-year Patriots coach Brad Bradley said. "We were going to throw the football, but if it's not broke, you don't fix it."
Halfback Brandon Terry rushed for 126 yards and two TDs on 16 carries. His 5-yard run tied the game with 5:06 left in the third quarter. Quarterback Zach Cochran picked up 91 yards and the go-ahead score on a 4-yard run with 10:16 to play.
Sophomore Xavier Whorley added a 1-yard run and backup quarterback David Prince -- another sophomore -- added the capper on a 66-yard keeper.
The offensive line, which included 6-foot-8, 300-pound Ryan Revia and 6-foot-4, 306-pound Greg Millner at the tackle spots, opened the holes.
"They couldn't stop our inside runs, so we kept banging it inside," Cochran said. "When the ends crashed, we just took it outside.
"I'm more of a runner, but I'm trying to get the passing down so I can be more of a threat."
The final score belied the danger PH found itself in at halftime.
Hidden Valley grabbed a 7-0 lead on a 5-yard TD run by freshman Walker Brand, set up by a 60-yard burst by fullback Dylan Johnson.
Cochran was 0-for-8 passing, and the Patriots picked up just three first downs in the first half as visions of last year's 44-14 Hidden Valley victory were in the air.
"Last year we went down 16-6 and we came out and didn't want to battle," Bradley said. "Tonight, nothing went right for us on offense in the whole first half. We did not panic and came out and played football."
Patrick Henry's defense, getting big plays from Chad Migkins and Josh Friday, set the tone. The Titans' touchdown drive was their last possession that ended without a punt. On seven series in the second half, PH allowed zero first downs
"They pushed us around and they deserved to win that ballgame," Hidden Valley coach Scott Weaver said. "They just took it to us."
Hidden Valley, which lost starting quarterback Michael Simonic to a preseason knee injury, went with 130-pound sophomore Chad Frazier, who originally was slated to be the JV signal-caller.
Frazier dropped his first snap from center and was picked off by Whorley on his first pass. However, he settled down to complete 6 of 8 passes for 29 yards.
Partly because of booming kickoffs by PH's Remington Henshaw, Hidden Valley was saddled with miserable field position the entire second half.
"We were backed up inside our 20 almost all night and with a first-game starting sophomore quarterback it limits you," Weaver said. "But no excuses are made. You've still got to make the block. You've still got to run the ball."
Johnson rushed for 87 yards to lead Hidden Valley, which lost starting middle linebacker Jake Hubbard on the second series of the game.
"We've got use this as a learning experience," Weaver said.
"We had 13 seniors last year that when things went wrong they stepped up and we were able to win some ballgames. Right now we need our seniors to find their own way."
Hidden Valley 7 0 0 0 -- 7
Patrick Henry 0 0 7 28--35
HV -- W.Brand 5 run (Draudt kick)
PH -- Terry 5 run (Henshaw kick)
PH -- Cochran 4 run (Henshaw kick)
PH -- Terry 1 run (kick failed)
PH -- X.Whorley 1 run (Cochran run)
PH -- Prince 66 run (Henshaw kick)
HV PH
First downs 4 16
Yards rushing 35-81 49-345
Passes C-A-I 6-8-1 1-10-0
Yards passing 29 2
Penalties-yards 5-43 7-63
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0
Punts-average 11-33.5 6-37.5
Individual statistics
RUSHING -- Hidden Valley, Johnson 9-87, W.Brand 12-26, K.Stanley 2-1, Frazier 12-(-33). Patrick Henry, Terry 16-126, Cochran 22-91, Prince 1-66, X.Whorley 5-40, Walker 1-17, Green 1-16, Casey 1-(-1), Team 2-(-10).
PASSING -- Hidden Valley, Frazier 6-8-1-29. Patrick Henry, Cochran 1-10-0-2.
RECEIVING -- Hidden Valley, G.Brand 3-18, Lescure 3-11. Patrick Henry, Casey 1-2.
