APA defeats John Paul II on Senior Night
The Patriots capped a vital week with a 43-32 victory Friday over John Paul II on Senior Night. APA (3-2) never trailed on the way to delivering another statement victory.
APA defeated Rocky Mount Faith Christian 33-18 Monday before corralling a powerful Saints ground game at home. John Paul II (4-2) averaged 443.4 rushing yards per game coming in, but was held to 281 yards, including 112 in the first half when the Patriots were in complete control.
“I’m really proud of these guys,” APA coach Matt Beaman said. “When we were 1-2, it would’ve been easy for these guys to quit believing in what we were selling them, and they really stepped it up. We’re starting to play with that swagger — they’re starting to remind me of the team we had last year, pulling for each other and leaving everything on the field.”
The Patriots started the game with an aerial attack on the opening drive. Cole Dawson went 4 of 5 for 47 yards, capped off with a 10-yard touchdown to Morgan McPhaul. After the teams swapped possessions, Dallas Hill recovered a fumble to end the second Saints drive. The Patriots responded by going 71 yards in eight plays, capped off with a 5-yard McPhaul run to go up 15-0.
McPhaul, who had a combined 149 yards of offense, said the team is getting stronger as time progresses as players are back on the field — this was his second game back this season.
“We’re starting to get healthy again,” McPhaul said.
Dawson added a 2-yard touchdown run before John Paul II got on the board — Rion Roseborough scored from three yards out — but the Patriots immediately countered with a 13-play, 80-yard drive. Dawson found Harrison for a 17-yard touchdown connection just before halftime to put APA ahead 28-8. The Patriots forced a three-and-out to start the third before Dawson threw his third touchdown pass — this one to John Stocks — on the ensuing drive to put the team ahead by 27.
“We just came out with a good gameplan,” Dawson said. “We knew exactly what we were doing and just executed.”
APA started resting players in the third quarter, preparing for the season finale on the road against Cary Christian.
For Hill, one of nine seniors on the team — along with Harrison, Stocks, Tyler Aliff, Parker Edwards, Colby Lewis, Walter Shannon, Parker Sheppard and Will Whitley — this was a great win on numerous levels.
“This really put us in a great place for the playoffs, to potentially get a 2-seed and get a home playoff game,” Hill said. “For Senior Night, this feels great — I’ve been in the program since seventh grade and it feels great to have a team that puts their all in it.”
