By Chuck Reherman, Sports Editor – GRANDFIELD – Southwest Covenant knew what it had to do to earn the Patriots’ first ever home playoff berth.
It took SWCS only 24 minutes to earn it.
Sam Webb ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more in the first half to lead the Patriots to a 52-6 win over Grandfield, at Grandfield in the regular season finale.
The Patriots, 8-2, finished the district season with a 4-1 record and runner-up in C-2. SWCS will host either Sharon Mutual or Buffalo in the opening round of the playoffs this coming Friday at Patriot Field.
Southwest Covenant scored their 52 points in the first half, taking no chances of getting any hurt for the playoffs, and ending the game at halftime on the 45-point eightman mercy rule.
“You never really want to end a game early, you always want your younger kids to get some playing time,” Patriot head coach Trey Cloud said. “But, at this time of the season, you don’t want to get anyone hurt, especially with the playoffs coming up. And, Grandfield was really low on players and we don’t feel it would have helped our young players that much.
“We came out and did what we had to do early on,” he said. “We ran the ball well and Sam threw the ball well. We know with whoever we play in the first round, we will need to have everyone healthy and both our run and pass game working well.”
Webb ran for 103 yards on nine carries and completed four of seven passes for another 96.
Trevor Kelly led the rushing attack with 138 yards on only eight carries and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 64 yards and one score.
The Patriots either scored or had big plays set up their touchdowns. SWCS had 52 points on the board in just over 20 minutes.
Webb scored the first touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run. It came after big runs from Kelly and Nathan Hagan.
Webb team up with Kelly on a 31-yard scoring pass on the team’s next possession, opening a 14-0 run after Hagan’s run on the two-point conversion.
On the third possession of the night, Bryce Brown caught a 22-yard scoring pass from Webb. The player was set up on a 33-yard pass from Webb and Kelly. The score gave the Millers a 20-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Kelly opened the second quarter with a 61-yard touchdown run and Brown’s run on the conversion opened a 28-0 lead. Runs by Kelly and and Webb set up the score.
Webb rushed for his second touchdown three minutes later, scoring from 15-yards out. Kelly’s conversion run made it a 36-0 game.
A Grandfield fumble was recovered by Cole Shaw and led to the Patriots next touchdown. Kelly scored on a seven-yard run and then ran in the conversion to push the lead to 44-0.
Webb added the final touchdown on a 32-yard run. The play was set up after Shaw intercepted a Grandfield pass. Kelly ran in the conversion for a 52-0 lead with four minutes left in the half.
Grandfield scored in the closing minutes, but the Patriot defense stopped the conversion run that would have sent the game into the second half (the game would have been a 44-point difference instead of 46).
The Patriot defense held Grandfield to 88 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers. The Patriots had 391 yards of offense in 39 plays (10 yards per play average) and went six of six on third down conversions.
