By Chuck Reherman, Sports Editor – DEPEW – Facing back-to-back top 10 ranked teams is always a challenge for any team.
It was for Southwest Covenant and the Patriots saw their unbeaten streak come to an end.
Class B No. 2 ranked Depew used a blistering ground game to hand the Patriots their first loss, 42-20, Friday night at Depew.
The Patriots, 3-1, were held to only 36 yards rushing on the night, but were able to stay in the game behind the arm of Sam Webb, who passed for 281 yards.
“We knew Depew was going to be a challenge, they have a very good team with an explosive offense,” SWCS head coach Trey Cloud said. “I’m not that displeased with the game, it was 16-point game with five minutes remaining.
“We did some good things in the game,” he said. “They were by far the best team we have faced and they may possibly be the best team we play all year.”
The Patriots knew going in that the defense would have to find a way to corral Hornet runningback Steve Quinones. Quinones finished the night rushing for 252 yards on 21 carries and scored three touchdowns.
Depew started the game fast, returning the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, ran in the conversion and led 8-0 less than 20 seconds into the contest.
Quinones scored on the team’s first offensive possesson (after a three and out by the Patriots), on a 12-yard run and a 14-0 lead.
A 32-yard Webb to Cole Shaw touchdown pass cut the lead to 14-8 after the two-point conversion. The scored capped a 65-yard drive by the Patriots.
But, Depew came right back with a Brody Parrick 50-yard touchdown run and a 22-8 first quarter lead.
The Hornets ran their lead to 38-8 in the second quarter. Quinones scored on a 47-yard run.
Blake Stafford scored on a seven-yard run after a Patriot punt to open a 34-8 lead in the third quarter.
The Patriots tried to make a fourth quarter rally. Shaw caught a 59-yard scoring pass from Webb to cut the lead to 34-14 and Webb scored on a three-yard run to make it 34-20 midway in the fourth quarter.
A 14-yard Quinones touchcdown run and the conversion made it a 22-point game, 42-20, with less than four minutes remaining.
Webb completed 16 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two scores, Trevor Kelly caught eight passes for 130 yards and Shaw had five receptions for 122 yards. Kelly led the rushing with 39 yards on eight carries.
The Patriots return home to host Empire in a 7 p.m. game at Patriot Field.
