The Veterans Memorial Patriots suffered a tough 49-14 loss to the Canyon Lake Hawks on Friday night at D.W. Rutledge Stadium.
The game started with a back-and-forth offensive flurry in the first quarter. Canyon Lake struck first with a 14-yard touchdown pass, but the Patriots quickly answered as quarterback MJ Sparks broke free for a spectacular 65-yard touchdown run. The Hawks responded with another passing touchdown, but Trecorrus Jordan kept the Patriots in the fight with a 72-yard touchdown run of his own, knotting the score at 14-14.
Unfortunately for the Patriots, the second quarter marked a turning point. A blocked kick was returned for a touchdown by the Hawks, giving them a lead they would not relinquish. From that point on, Canyon Lake's offense and special teams continued to capitalize on opportunities, including a fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Hawks added two more passing and one rushing touchdown in the second half, solidifying the final score.
Despite the difficult outcome, the Patriots will now turn their focus to their district opener against McCollum on October 3 at Harlandale Memorial Stadium.