Patriots take down Gold Diggers

The Upton-Sundance Patriots opened their 2021 season under the lights at Ferguson Field against the Lead-Deadwood Gold Diggers. In a commanding 54-21 victory, the Patriots opened their season right where they left off last year. 

Taking over for graduated senior Brad Kruger at the quarterback position, sophomore Keaton Mills had no trouble keeping the Patriot offense moving throughout the night. The opening drives for the Patriots found Levi Rudloff and Kaedyn Fletcher pushing their way down the field to help set Mills up for the one-yard run and Patriot touchdown.

Followed by a successful field goal kick by Rudloff, the Patriots put themselves up 7-0 in the first quarter. 

Upton-Sundance continued to dominate the offensive and defensive ends throughout the second quarter, scoring five touchdowns before the horn would sound for halftime, giving them a dominating 41-0 lead over the Gold Diggers.

The Gold Diggers found their way onto the scoreboard in the second half, scoring three touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to overtake the dominating Patriot offense which walked away with the 54-21 victory. 

The Patriots play next on Croell Field in Sundance on Thursday this week at 7 p.m.

Stats

Offense:

Reece Barritt: 1 carry for 64 yards and 1 TD

Levi Rudloff: 6 carries for 49 yards and 2 TDs

Ryder Downey: 6 carries for 20 yards and 1 TD

Keaton Mills: 7 carries for 15 yards and 1 TD

Passing:

K. Mills: 6 for 10, 46 yards and 2 TDs

Receiving:

L. Rudloff: 2 receptions for 11 yards

Luca Brooks: 1 for 11 yards

Jesse Harmon: 1 for 8 and 1 TD

Kaeden Fletcher: 1 for 8 and 1 TD

R. Barritt: 1 for 8

Defense Leaders:

Jameson Fleenor: 15 points, 6 assisted tackles, 1 unassisted tackle, 1 blocked kick

Keaton Mills: 14 points, 5 AT, 1 UT, 1 pass break up, 1 interception

Nathan Baker: 11 points, 4 AT, 1 UT, 1 INT

Reece Barritt: 10 points, 1 AT, 3 UT, 1 tackle for loss

Eli Gill: 9 points, 5 AT, 1 UT

Levi Rudloff: 9 points, 4 AT, 1 UT, 1 TFL