Patriots Etch their Senior Night into the history books with a 17-7 win over Salem
Roanoke, VA, Merrill Gainer Field, Patriot Stadium – With the Patriot band blaring and the student section screaming behind him, RB 7 Jahzae Kimbrough said it best, “We haven’t beat Salem in so long, but this feels so good.” The last time was in 1994. It’s been 28 years since PH beat the Salem Spartans and the Patriots made it happen on their senior night in front of a packed stadium. Kimbrough and QB 12 Joseph Beasley started the night off with a bomb. The pass covered 61-yards. RB 5 Chuck Webb did the rest, muscling his way to the end zone to put PH in the lead 7-0, a minute and half into the night. And they never let it go, Patrick Henry never trailed throughout the entire game. But, the Spartans are feared throughout the state for a reason, as they quickly struck back with a RB 2 Peyton Lewis TD. After the score, it looked like Salem would nestle back into their familiar winning play-style, but the Patriots didn’t back down, adding another three points to the board with a 26-yard field goal from K 29 Samuel Dowdy. Thanks to PH’s aggressive defense, from four minutes in the first quarter on, the Spartans were held scoreless. First, Kimbrough swatted a Salem QB 10 DaRon Wilson’s pass out of the air. On the next drive, the PH “D” caused a fumble, setting Salem back five yards. Each Spartan drive, PH stepped up, culminating with DB 2 Carmelo Taylor swatting two Spartan passes down, one of which prevented a potential touchdown. Taylor, Penn State bound next year, impacted the game on the offensive end as well; with the senior pulling in a 33-yard reception to set up Chuck Webb’s second and final TD. “Salem’s got a great program and to beat them it takes a great effort,” Patrick Henry head Coach Fiddler said after the game, “I thought our kids played well tonight, they gave a great effort.” – Graham Whitaker
