John Thompson, a former Valdosta assistant in his first season as Berkmar’s coach, aims to build a smashmouth team in Lilburn.

His first game showed how far the Patriots have to go.

Aiken (S.C.) outmuscled Berkmar, rushed for nearly 300 yards and left town with a 28-20 victory.

“We’ve got to get tougher, and we’ve got to get stronger in the weight room,” said Thompson, who scrapped Berkmar’s shotgun attack for the wing-T. “They out-weight-roomed us.”

Two Hornets surpassed 100 yards. Cortez Abney rushed for 129 yards, and Jeremy Robinson added 108 yards and two touchdowns.

The Patriots mustered fewer than 50 rushing yards.

Duke commitment Kadeem Wise was Berkmar’s biggest weapon. After a 51-yard kickoff return and a 31-yard punt return in the first half, Wise caught a 62-yard touchdown pass to pull the Patriots within 28-20 late in the fourth.

But Berkmar’s last-ditch drive went nowhere.

“There are some good things ahead of us,” Thompson said. “We’ve got a young, inexperienced group. We started nine guys on offense for the first time who had not seen Friday night lights.”

Berkmar led 14-7 at the half, but Aiken scored 21 consecutive points. The Hornets pulled ahead for good after defensive end Hudson Smith barreled in to block a punt.

Thompson was not pleased with his special teams.

“If it takes 2.7 seconds to get the ball off, it ought to be blocked,” he said.

Berkmar’s big break came in the second quarter.

As Hornets quarterback Kessler Scott pitched, he was hit by outside linebacker Samir Mustafic, and the ball popped up into no-man’s land. Cornerback Derrick Weems snatched it belt-high and raced 25 yards for the tying touchdown.

Jordan Murry came up with another big play, recovering a fumbled punt. Anthony Thompson’s 21-yard burst set up a 1-yard touchdown run by fullback Michael Rosser.

Thus Berkmar led at halftime despite being outgained 170-63.

Then the Patriots’ defense wore down.

It didn’t help that safety Brandon Aldridge and end Shakie Doe-Williams left with injuries. Thompson was hopeful both seniors would be able to return soon.