Roger Whitehead
Special to The Randolph Guide
TRINITY —
Taking the opening kickoff and driving for a touchdown, the Providence Grove High School jayvee football squad opened the new season with a 39-6 whipping of Wheatmore.
Scoring in every quarter, the Patriots saw six players crack the endzone in rolling up a 33-0 cushion early in the fourth quarter.
Providence Grove grabbed momentum quickly by launching a 64-yard, 13-play drive with the opening kickoff. A seven-yard TD run by Malcolm Hopkins capped off the march at the 6:10 mark for a 6-0 lead.
On the Patriots’ next possession, QB Andy Parris directed his team downfield on a 62-yard drive, sailing into the endzone himself on a six-yard run to finish off a seven-play march.
Jonathan Ritch powered in on a 2-point conversion run for a14-0 lead with 11:53 left in the first half. That score stood at intermission.
A solid defense by PG kept the Warriors offense quiet, forcing a third-period punt to set up a 78-yard march in eight plays. A 15-yard TD run by Ritch made it 20-0 with 4:47 left in the quarter.
Minutes later after a Wheatmore punt, Detri Wilson broke free and rambled 64 yards down the sideline for another Patriot touchdown and a 26-0 lead with 2:18 remaining in the third quarter.
The Patriot defense continued to shine as Michael Perrin blocked a Warrior punt, giving Providence Grove the ball at the Wheatmore 4.
Two plays later Josh Melton sailed into the endzone. Irving Arias tacked on the PAT kick for a 33-0 bulge with 6:07 left in the game.
Wheatmore avoided the shutout when Taylor Mitton rambled 15 yards for a Warrior TD. The PAT attempt failed. The score completed a 65-yard, nine-play march.
Late in the game, Timothy Chapman found paydirt on a 60-yard jaunt down the sideline. The PAT try failed but the Patriots enjoyed a 39-6 cushion with 1:16 left to play.
Providence Grove attempts to stay on the winning track as they travel to Troy Thursday for a 7 p.m. nonconference game against East Montgomery.
