Football - East vs North 9/19

The Patriots played host to country rival Sullivan North Friday night in a Mountain Lakes Conference game. It was Homecoming for Sullivan East and marked the 40^th anniversary of the high school. The Golden Raiders of North were eager to come in and prove that their #10 state ranking was deserved and also looking for some payback as the Patriots played spoiler to North's homecoming a year ago. They did just that, running the ball at will against East, taking an easy 36-7 win against the Patriots.

The Raiders took the opening kickoff 54 yards, all on the ground except for one pass for 3 yards, and punched the ball in from the 7-yard line to give themselves the lead at 7-0. The Patriots took the following kickoff and took advantage of two North miscues, a 15-yard personal foul and 5-yard offsides penalty to set up a 34-yard Tyler Gaby to John Ryan pass in the end zone. The PAT was good and the score was tied 7-7. This gave fans every indication it was going to be a barn burner.

North answered right back on their next possession. Starting on their own 41-yard line, the Golden Raiders marched right back down the field and with 2:18 left in the first quarter took it in the end zone again from five yards out. The PAT gave the lead back to North, 14-7. Once again, the Patriots responded. On their next possession, QB Gaby had two consecutive runs of 16 and 20 yards to put the ball back in North territory. On the second run, Gaby had the air knocked out of him and had to sit out the next play. As the second quarter starts, East finds themselves with a 1^st and goal at the North 8-yard line and ended up going backwards on their next three plays. A loss of one yard and two yards on the first two rushes from scrimmage found the Patriots looking at 3^rd and goal from the 11 yard line. Gaby then went back to pass and instead of taking a sack was called for intentional grounding. With the loss of down, the Patriots were looking at 4^th and goal from the 36. Forced to punt, a bad snap makes things even worse and the Raiders took possession at their own 40. North punches the ball in again from five yards out with 3:51 left in the half. An offsides call on the Patriots allows North to go for the two point conversion which is successful and the score going into the half is all North, 22-7. Chase Depew intercepts a North pass as time expired to keep North off the board again.

The second half begins the same way for the Patriots. Their first possession sees them go three and out and having to punt the ball. The Raiders, starting at their own 30, take the ball down the field once again. With 4:35 left in the 3^rd quarter, another five yard run sees paydirt for North. Again, an offsides on the PAT gives the Raiders the chance for a two point conversion which is good. Score: North 30 East 7.

East fumbles on their next drive and this time the defense holds and forces the Golden Raiders to punt for the first time in the game. East comes out and commits another turnover with a fumble and four plays later North finds the end zone again, but fails to convert the PAT. With 7:53 remaining in the game, North has a 36-7 advantage and both sides begin to play their reserves. Neither side can obtain an advantage and that's how the game ended.

East falls to 2-2 overall for the season and are 0-2 in the conference. They next face Unaka in a non-conference game next Friday.

The 2008 Homecoming Queen was senior Kaila Nelson.