Post by 50yardfan on Feb 27, 2012 13:40:54 GMT -5
Port Huron Patriots defense shines in 21-14 victory
Team wins last preseason tuneup, 21-14
www.thetimesherald.com/article/20120227/SPORTS/202270311/Football-Port-Huron-Patriots-defense-shines-21-14-victory
The Port Huron Patriots are a more polished football team after playing a couple of exhibition games.
But the first-year team still has a long way to go to accomplish its goals.
That was obvious Sunday, as the Patriots struggled to put away the Michigan Gators in their final exhibition game.
The Patriots won the game 21-14 at McMorran Arena, but struggled to muster much offense and hurt itself on several occasions with penalties.
"We have to play much better than this, but the guys are still getting comfortable," Patriots coach John Forti said.
"I was really happy with the defense. They made a lot of big plays."
On the final drive of the game, the Gators were making their way down the field until Marine City High School graduate Mike Matyniak came up big for the Patriots with a crucial sack.
Two plays later, Patriots defensive back Nicolas Thompson intercepted Gators quarterback Torrence Webster in the end zone to preserve the victory.
The Patriots got off to a good start early in the game. They recovered an onside kick on the first play of the game and then scored on the resulting drive on a three-yard run from Tracey McIntyre.
The Patriots led 7-0 at the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, the Patriots defense continued to play well. After holding the Gators in their own zone, the Patriots blocked a field goal and recovered it at the Gators' 1-yard line.
McIntyre capped the drive with a 1-yard score, to give the Patriots a 14-0 lead.
But that's when the Patriots started coming unglued.
The Gators got on the board on the ensuing drive as Webster found James Terry for a 12-yard score.
The Patriots seemed to respond, as Joe Morris took the ensuing kick back for a score. But it was called back due to a block in the back.
"We are beating ourselves at times," Patriots quarterback Darryl Johnson said after completing 7 of 17 passes for 41 yards.
"We had a few penalties at the worst possible time. You know you are going to get penalties, but you hope it doesn't happen at an important point of the game."
The Patriots failed to score on the drive after kicker Justin Brantley missed the first of several chip shots that would have furthered the Patriots' lead.
After the failed kick, the Gators went right back to work, as Webster and Terry would hook up again, this time for a 45-yard score that tied the game at 14-14 heading into the half.
The Gators seemed to be taking control early in the third quarter, but Patriots defensive back Ernie Smith stepped in front of a pass for his first of two second-half interceptions. That gave the Patriots the ball back.
But the Patriots wouldn't do much with it. They drove down the field before Brantley missed another kick.
The game entered the fourth quarter still deadlocked at 14. The Gators continued to drive, but Smith once again stepped in front of a Webster pass to save the Patriots and position them for the go-ahead score.
"What I like to do is bait the quarterback," Smith said. "Make him think I'm going one way and then head the other way. It's a little deception."
On the ensuing drive McIntyre scored again, this time from the 5 to give the Patriots the lead.
McIntyre finished the game with 12 rushes for 42 yards and three scores.
The Patriots will be off next week as they prepare for the regular season opener, March 10 at home against the Chicago Vipers.
"We'll head back to practice and work on some of the things we didn't do well," coach Forti said. "We have to get the guys more comfortable, and the offense will come."
Team wins last preseason tuneup, 21-14
www.thetimesherald.com/article/20120227/SPORTS/202270311/Football-Port-Huron-Patriots-defense-shines-21-14-victory
The Port Huron Patriots are a more polished football team after playing a couple of exhibition games.
But the first-year team still has a long way to go to accomplish its goals.
That was obvious Sunday, as the Patriots struggled to put away the Michigan Gators in their final exhibition game.
The Patriots won the game 21-14 at McMorran Arena, but struggled to muster much offense and hurt itself on several occasions with penalties.
"We have to play much better than this, but the guys are still getting comfortable," Patriots coach John Forti said.
"I was really happy with the defense. They made a lot of big plays."
On the final drive of the game, the Gators were making their way down the field until Marine City High School graduate Mike Matyniak came up big for the Patriots with a crucial sack.
Two plays later, Patriots defensive back Nicolas Thompson intercepted Gators quarterback Torrence Webster in the end zone to preserve the victory.
The Patriots got off to a good start early in the game. They recovered an onside kick on the first play of the game and then scored on the resulting drive on a three-yard run from Tracey McIntyre.
The Patriots led 7-0 at the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, the Patriots defense continued to play well. After holding the Gators in their own zone, the Patriots blocked a field goal and recovered it at the Gators' 1-yard line.
McIntyre capped the drive with a 1-yard score, to give the Patriots a 14-0 lead.
But that's when the Patriots started coming unglued.
The Gators got on the board on the ensuing drive as Webster found James Terry for a 12-yard score.
The Patriots seemed to respond, as Joe Morris took the ensuing kick back for a score. But it was called back due to a block in the back.
"We are beating ourselves at times," Patriots quarterback Darryl Johnson said after completing 7 of 17 passes for 41 yards.
"We had a few penalties at the worst possible time. You know you are going to get penalties, but you hope it doesn't happen at an important point of the game."
The Patriots failed to score on the drive after kicker Justin Brantley missed the first of several chip shots that would have furthered the Patriots' lead.
After the failed kick, the Gators went right back to work, as Webster and Terry would hook up again, this time for a 45-yard score that tied the game at 14-14 heading into the half.
The Gators seemed to be taking control early in the third quarter, but Patriots defensive back Ernie Smith stepped in front of a pass for his first of two second-half interceptions. That gave the Patriots the ball back.
But the Patriots wouldn't do much with it. They drove down the field before Brantley missed another kick.
The game entered the fourth quarter still deadlocked at 14. The Gators continued to drive, but Smith once again stepped in front of a Webster pass to save the Patriots and position them for the go-ahead score.
"What I like to do is bait the quarterback," Smith said. "Make him think I'm going one way and then head the other way. It's a little deception."
On the ensuing drive McIntyre scored again, this time from the 5 to give the Patriots the lead.
McIntyre finished the game with 12 rushes for 42 yards and three scores.
The Patriots will be off next week as they prepare for the regular season opener, March 10 at home against the Chicago Vipers.
"We'll head back to practice and work on some of the things we didn't do well," coach Forti said. "We have to get the guys more comfortable, and the offense will come."