Confederates’ fourth-down gambles pay off

Close game.

Pride's at stake.

It's fourth down.

What's the call?

On the Lee-Davis sideline last night, the answer was simple.

Three times in the Confederates' 20-13 road victory over Patrick Henry before a crowd of 4,500 in the 51st renewal of the Tomato Bowl, coach Jason Meade kept his offense on the field.

Three times, quarterback Phillip Gardner and his cohorts made the plays.

Were they gambling?

"No," Meade said. "Because of the offense, we feel like we're in a position to do what we do.

"Our kids did a nice job of executing. Our coaching staff did a good job of putting 'em in a position to win."

Ahead 6-3 early in the second quarter, L-D faced a fourth-and-10 on the PH 34.

Gardner, a 6-2, 213-pound senior, rolled right and lofted a pass to Will Connerley near the sideline.

Connerley checked his feet, drew a bead on the ball, and hauled it in at the 18 as his momentum carried him out of bounds.

Four plays later, Emmit Atkins followed his blocking over the right side from a yard out. William Castelvecchi added the point after, and the Confederates (2-1) carried a 13-3 lead into halftime.

Though the second fourth-down conversion late in the second quarter didn't result in points, the Confederates showed no hesitation to go for it near the end of the third.

On fourth and 1 on the Patriots' 14, a field goal situation, they called Atkins' number, and the 5-10, 170-pound senior carried off the left side to the 11.

Two plays later, he scored on a 6-yard run to put the visitors up 20-10.

The Confederates' 4-4 defense allowed 134 yards, but 67 came on a run by Kenny Mock in the first quarter and 30 on a pass from Jayrin Waller to Demond Straus in the fourth.

"We have a lot confidence in our defense," Meade said. "They came out in a Wing-T scheme we haven't seen before. Our defense played their tails off tonight, and our offense converted when they needed to convert.

"I have total confidence in these guys."

Gardner lit up the Patriots (0-3) with 19 completions in 29 attempts for 225 yards.

"The main thing that was working for us was the 5-yard stop route," Gardner said.

"Late in the game, the 15-yard, stop-comeback was looking really good for us.

"Their cornerbacks tried to keep everything in front of them, so we just took what they gave us, basically."

Connerley, a 6-2, 195-pound senior, hauled in 10 passes for 169 yards.

"Personally, I have to thank the line," Connerley said. "They gave Phillip the protection to get the ball away.

"Phillip just made his passes tonight. He put 'em on the spot."

Lee-Davis ended Patrick Henry's four-game winning streak in the battle of Hanover Country rivals.

"It's never easy," Meade said. "Their staff came out with a game plan that stretched us defensively early.

"We hadn't seen that stuff on film, but our kids responded really, really well."

Lee-Davis ------------------------- 6 7 7 0 -- 20
Patrick Henry ------------------------- 3 0 7 3 -- 13

PH -- FG Dyer 24

LD -- Walton 1 run (run failed)

LD -- Atkins 1 run (Castelvecchi kick)

PH -- Houchens 5 run (Dyer kick)

LD -- Atkins 6 run (Castelvecchi kick)

PH -- FG Dyer 27

RUSHING

Lee-Davis -- Walton 4 carries, 40 yards, Atkins 18-32, Gardner 10-minus 17. Patrick Henry -- Mock 5-84, Houchens 1-5, Straus 3-6, Derricott 2-4, Pugh 3-2, Waller 12-0
PASSING

Lee-Davis -- Gardner 19 completions, 29 attempts, 2 interceptions, 225 yards. Pat rick Henry -- Waller 3-12-2-32
RECEIVING

Lee-Davis -- Connerley 10 receptions, 169 yards, Becker 2-21, Walton 1-15, Angus 1-14, Stallings 1-7, Stone 3-1, Atkins 1-minus 2. Patrick Henry -- Straus 1-30, Mock 1-5, Derricott 1-minus 3.