Returning to the scene of their last regular-season loss, the Sandy Creek Patriots quickly erased any thoughts of a repeat defeat.
The Patriots (2-0-1) won 54-35 after sprinting to a 28-0 first-quarter lead, extending their regular-season unbeaten streak to 42 games.
Fans and coaches on both sides sported gray shirts in memory of East Coweta cheerleader Madeline McTier, who died earlier this week after a battle with brain cancer. The fence surrounding the field was adorned with pink tributes.
Sandy Creek rolled up 469 total yards behind quarterback Cole Garvin, who completed 12-of-18 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Delvin Weems rushed for 121 yards and Eric Swinney added 87 rushing yards while scoring four total touchdowns.
All of that offset a 208-yard passing performance by East Coweta quarterback Bryce Gemmel, who connected for three touchdowns. E.J. Ransom caught four passes for 119 yards and a pair of scores.
East Coweta, which beat Sandy Creek 28-27 in double overtime to open the 2009 season, was forced to play catch-up early. The Indians (1-2) twice pulled within two scores but never solved Sandy Creek’s offense.
The Patriots took a 7-0 lead on their second possession. A 39-yard run by Weems gave them first-and-goal from the Indians’ 2-yard line, and Swinney stepped in on the next play.
Sandy Creek turned two interceptions into touchdowns to go up 21-0. Micah Solomon’s interception and return to the Sandy Creek 46 set up the first, a 57-yard screen pass from Garvin to Swinney.
Two plays later, the Patriots’ Brian Miller grabbed a tipped ball at the East Coweta 40 and sprinted down the middle for the score.
A 33-yard punt return by Demarre Kitt set Sandy Creek up at the East Coweta 38, and Garvin found Justin Sumpter down the right sideline for another touchdown with 1:01 left in the first period.
East Coweta got on the board with a nine-play, 54-yard drive, scoring on a 13-yard pass from Gemmel to Jacob Bergstrom.
Markell Boston’s 36-yard punt return pulled the Indians within 28-14, but Sandy Creek drove 89 yards in 11 plays to extend the lead to 34-14.
