The Veterans Memorial Patriots suffered a tough 56-25 defeat against the Kerrville Tivy Antlers on Thursday night at D.W. Rutledge Stadium.
The game began as an electric offensive shootout in the first quarter. Tivy scored first with a 14-yard touchdown pass, but the Patriots quickly responded when Johnathon Cantu found Chance Perez for a 35-yard touchdown strike. After another Tivy passing touchdown, Bryce Cole Jr. delivered a massive momentum swing, taking the ensuing kickoff 90 yards to the house to tie the game at 14-14. Tivy managed one more passing touchdown before the quarter ended, taking a 21-14 lead. The Antlers extended their lead in the second quarter with a 31-yard passing touchdown, making the halftime score 28-14.
The Patriots fought valiantly to close the gap in the third quarter. Ben Fink connected on a 17-yard field goal, followed by a 10-yard touchdown run from Trecorrus Jordan Jr. The successful two-point conversion narrowed the deficit to 28-25. However, Tivy's aerial attack was relentless, scoring three unanswered passing touchdowns in quick succession to take a commanding 49-25 lead into the final quarter. Tivy added one more passing touchdown in the fourth, cementing the 56-25 final score.
Despite the difficult outcome, the Patriots will look to regroup as they prepare for their third district game against Alamo Heights at Alamo Heights High School on Friday, October 17.