By Chuck Reherman
Sports Editor
ALEX – Southwest Covenant went into their third district game of the season looking to hold onto a share of first place.
And, for three and one-half quarters, the Patriots looked like they were going to pull it off. But, Alex had a different answer in the final six minutes.
Alex scored a pair of touchdowns in the final six minutes to rally to a 44-38 District B-4 win over the Patriots Friday night in Alex.
The Patriots had taken a lead early in the fourth quarter in the high scoring affair only to see Alex tie the game, put together a late drive for the win.
“We played well, Alex has a really good team and they have probably the best runningback we have seen this year,” Patriot head coach Trey Cloud said. “We did a good job most of the time on him, but we let him get away a few times and each time he burned us.
“I felt our offense played really well,” he said. “We moved the ball all night long and had a season high rushing the ball and put points on the board. We just didn’t put enough on the scoreboard.”
The Patriots rolled up 457 yards of offense and outgained Alex, who finished with 437 yards. Tatton Anderson had 232 of those yards on the ground on 22 carries.
Tyler Kelly had a career high rushing the ball for the Patriots, finishing with 243 yards on 33 carries, Bryson Ford also rushed for a career high 198 yards on 20 carries.
With the score tied 30-30 in the fourth quarter, Ford directed a drive that he finished off with a three-yard scoring run. He then ran in the conversion that gave the Patriots a 38-30 lead.
Alex put together a drive behind the running of Anderson, then Rilen Neal connected with Tallon Hurd on a 16-yard touchdown pass ad Anderson ran in the conversion that tied the game 38-38.
The Patriots were marching for the go ahead score but was stopped on a fourth down and short play, giving the ball back to the Longhorns.
Alex went on a drive that was capped by an 11-yard run by Anderson, giving the Longhorns a 44-38 lead. SWCS did have one more chance but couldn’t get a serious threat mounted.
SWCS did get off to a fast start as Kelly broke a 40-yard touchdown run on the Patriots’ opening possession. Grayson Reuther ran in the conversion that opened an 8-0 lead.
The defense stopped Alex on their opening possession and it led to a 47-yard Kelly touchdown run and a 14-0 lead.
The first quarter was 12 minutes of big plays. Alex came right back with a 57-yard run by Anderson to cut the lead to 14-8.
But, the Patriots turned right around with a third big play of their own. Ford kept the ball on a sweep play and bolted 87-yards for the touchdown. Kelly ran in the conversion and opened a 22-8 lead.
The Longhorns, though, produced two more big plays to finish off the quarter, a 44-yard scoring run by Anderson and a Neil 61-yard pass to Hurd that tied the game at 22-22.
SWCS regained the lead in their opening possession of the third quarter as Kelly capped a long drive with a one-yard scoring run. Anthony Cox ran in the conversion for a 30-22 lead.
But, Alex came back with a 30-yard run by Anderson and ran in the conversion that tied the game again 30-30.
