It was worth wondering whether Sandy Creek’s defense was as good as it had been over the past four years, but Friday night against Carrollton, the Patriots defenders did virtually everything they wanted.
Sandy Creek, ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA, beat No. 2 Carrollton 24-7 in large part because over the last 3 1/2 quarters Patriots defenders yielded virtually nothing.
Sandy Creek (8-0-1, 6-0 Region 5-AAAA) extended its regular-season unbeaten streak to 48 games and clinched its sixth consecutive region title.
After yielding a touchdown drive on the first possession, the Sandy Creek defense did not allow another first down in the next five Carrollton possessions.
“Everybody doubted us. We’ve been injured all year, but we got all our starters back and we just had to play,” said Sandy Creek defensive back Brian Miller, who contributed two interceptions to the effort.
Patriots quarterback Cole Garvin passed for 184 yards and added a rushing touchdown, while Eric Swinney rushed for 71 yards and two touchdowns and Delvin Weems added 97 rushing yards as Sandy Creek outgained Carrollton 366-88.
“We played like the defense we thought we’d have,” Sandy Creek coach Chip Walker said.
Carrollton (8-1, 5-1) started fast, getting a 53-yard return by Jarvis Terrell on the opening kickoff. The Trojans then drove to the game’s initial score, with quarterback Will Garrett pushing into the end zone from a yard out. The drive covered only 40 yards, but it took 11 plays and ate 5:31 off the clock.
The Trojans’ drive stalled inside the Sandy Creek 5-yard line, and after an illegal-procedure penalty, Tyler Newsome kicked a 23-yard field goal, but the Patriots were flagged for roughing the kicker. Carrollton coach Rayvan Teague opted to take the points off the board and go for a touchdown.
Sandy Creek answered, driving 80 yards on 12 plays. The big sequence in the drive took place on fourth down at the Carrollton 34-yard line. The Patriots ran a play and were apparently stopped short, but Carrollton called a timeout just before the snap. Given a second chance, Sandy Creek’s Delvin Weems bolted 10 yards for a first down, and two plays later Swinney sprinted in from 16 yards out to tie the score.
Sandy Creek took the lead following a turnover. Patriots defensive back Brian Miller stepped in front of a Garrett pass at the Carrollton 20 and returned the pick to the Trojans’ 8-yard line.
Cole Garvin snuck in from less than a yard out to put Sandy Creek up 14-7.
Swinney added a 6-yard run in the third period and Lorenzo Broadwater’s 22-yard field goal made the score 24-7.
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