Patriots victorious in epic nail-biting contest with John Paul II

GREENVILLE—The Arendell Parrott Academy Patriots traveled up Highway 11 to face the Saints of John Paul II in Greenville, NC. The Patriots defeated the Saints 42-35 in a game that lived up to its surrounding hype.

Improving to 5-2 for the season, this marks the Patriots' third consecutive win this year. It's also their third straight victory over the Saints. Last year, the Patriots bested the Saints twice: once for the Conference Championship and again in the final game for the State Championship.

Both teams fought hard, with the Patriots trailing for most of the game. Down 21-16 at halftime and 27-16 after the Saints' opening drive in the second half, the Patriots proved their resilience.

Outscoring the Saints 26-8 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots completed their comeback. A controversial play occurred with 6:20 left in the fourth when it appeared the Saints' running back fell short of a first down. However, the whistle never blew, and he ran uncontested into the end zone, making the score 35-24.

Down by 11, the Patriots scored just one minute and 20 seconds later, narrowing the gap to 35-30. Their defense then forced a three-and-out, setting the stage for Jaylen Solomon (#5) to break through the line for a 49-yard touchdown run, putting the Patriots ahead 36-30.

With less than two minutes left, the Saints attempted a 50-plus-yard field goal to win the game. The kick was blocked and returned for a touchdown, sealing the Patriots' 42-35 win as time expired.

Coach Matt Beaman expressed pride in his team's comeback victory. "We were going to find out who wanted it more... All the conditioning we do paid off in the fourth quarter. I thought we were the fresher football team, and it showed," Beaman said.

The Patriots amassed 398 offensive yards, led by Solomon with 37 carries for 281 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Caleb Sanderson (#9) went 6-for-14, passing for 35 yards and a touchdown. Sanderson also rushed for 32 yards on seven carries, scoring another touchdown. Ben Barrett (#3) had two catches for nine yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots have a bye next week and will host Wayne Christian, who are 7-1 this season, in two weeks. Despite the bye, the Patriots will ride the momentum of this win into their next challenging matchup.