Patriots win Homecoming game

The Upton-Sundance Patriots snapped their losing streak on Friday night in front of their Homecoming crowd at Croell Field, taking their first victory of the season with a 24-7 win over the Wheatland Bulldogs.

The Patriot fans were a little nervous in the opening minutes of the game as the Wheatland Bulldogs returned the opening kickoff to the 40-yard line and were able to gain another quick first down, but the Patriot defense settled in shortly thereafter and forced the Bulldogs to punt the ball away.

As the Upton-Sundance offense took to the field their luck was no better in the first quarter. Each team made slight gains, working time off the clock, but neither was able to score.

The second quarter brought a shift in momentum as the Bulldogs were able to convert a critical fourth down into a first and goal, putting them in scoring position. The next play brought the Bulldogs into the endzone and on to the scoreboard with a touchdown and a successful extra point, putting them up 7-0 over the Patriots.

The Patriot offense was back on the field and making great gains but a fumble by the Patriots turned the ball back over to the Bulldogs, on the 15-yard line. With the luck on their side, Wheatland was hoping to put more points on the board. Looking downfield, Wheatland went with their first pass of the game and Chase Mills was able to read the play and intercept the pass for the US Patriots.

A slight penalty set the Patriots back to the 49-yard line, but allowed them control of the ball once again. Determined to make it to the goal line, they began to work their way down the field and quarterback Keaton Mills made his way into the endzone on the quarterback keeper, putting the Patriots on the board. A successful two-point conversion gave the Patriots an 8-7 lead going into the halftime break.

The offensive flood gates opened for the Patriots in the third quarter as they took the opening kick off and easily made their way down the field with a combination of first downs and penalties on the Bulldogs.

With 6:41 remaining in the third quarter, Mills once again made his way into the endzone for the Patriots, adding six more to the board. Keeping with what works, the Patriots added two more, taking a 14-7 lead over the Bulldogs.

Needing to put points on the board, the Wheatland Bulldogs tried their luck at the passing game once again, but Eli Gill seemed to be in the right spot as he intercepted the Bulldog pass and was able to make his way back to the 25-yard line, putting the Patriots in scoring position once again. With some movement down the field, Keaton Mills was able to find Chase Mills in the endzone, adding another touchdown to the scoreboard.

The Patriots were able to add another successful two-point conversion and take a commanding 24-7 lead over the Bulldogs as the third quarter drew to a close. 

The scoring slowed throughout the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs offense continued to struggle to make gains and the Patriots punting the ball away. In the end, it was the Patriots who were able to kneel in the victory formation, taking the 24-7 Homecoming win, as time ran out.

With this victory the Patriots move to 1-4 for the season. With only a few games remaining, the Patriots will travel to Torrington on Friday night to face the Trailblazers. 

Stats

Rushing:

Eli Gill – 17/82

Keaton Mills – 16/63 2TD

Ryder Downey – 8/45

Kaedyn Fletcher – 2/7

Passing:

Keaton Mills – 7/10/83 1 TD 1INT

Receiving:

Jesse Harmon – 2/24

Rhett Watt – 1/7

Chase Mills – 2/38

Kaedyn Fletcher – 1/11

Eli Gill – 1/3

Defensive Leaders:

Eli Gill 22.5

Kaedyn Fletcher – 19.5

Chase Mills – 17.5

Jesse Harmon – 11

Jaedyn Keller – 10

Ryder Downey – 10