Big second quarter propels PA to victory

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Aug. 27, 2004
BUTLER, Ala. On a hot, muggy Alabama night, Patrician Academy was on fire.
The Saints exploded for 34 points in the second quarter on their way to a 53-24 win over arch-rival South Choctaw Academy on Thursday.
Beau Meeks rushed for a team-high 99 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Barry Meeks tallied 72 yards on 11 carries, and quarterback Brent Bonner tossed two touchdown passes for the Saints, now 1-0.
Statistics were unavailable for South Choctaw.
Most of those breaks came the Saints' way just before halftime. Patrician led by eight points late in the second quarter, but a 52-yard touchdown run by Beau Meeks with two minutes to go put the Saints up 26-12.
A minute later, Barry Meeks recovered a Rebels fumble and took it back 56 yards for a touchdown that gave Patrician a 34-12 lead.
To cap off the half, Travis Abate reeled in an interception and returned it for a touchdown with 13 seconds left in the half, giving the Saints a 40-12 halftime lead.
All told, Patrician scored three touchdowns in 110 seconds.
Otherwise, South Choctaw's offense was effective. The Rebels, 0-1 after the loss, used their spread offense to move the ball through the air and on the ground, where running back Dusty Welford wreaked havoc. Welford tallied more than 60 rushing yards in the first quarter alone.
Archibald said most of his team's mistakes were errors typical of a season opener.
Patrician is at Mobile Christian next week, while South Choctaw Academy hosts Wilcox.