Roger Lee

Senior Terrell Jordan led the Patriot receivers Friday with three catches for 42 yards.

T.J. Freeman’s sack of West Ashley quarterback Thomas Woodhead in the final 30 seconds of play pretty much sealed the deal for Fort Dorchester.

The Patriots (4-4) won a hard-fought battle with the Wildcats (2-6), holding off a late West Ashley push to earn a 20-16 victory in a non-region contest on Friday. The Wildcats were within reach the entire game, but Fort Dorchester made plays on defense when they counted most.

Trailing by 4 points, West Ashley forced the Patriots to punt and began one final drive at their own 30-yard line with 1:30 remaining in the game. Largely on two 20-yard runs by Woodhead, the Wildcats drove to the Fort 25. Then Freeman rushed up the middle on the next play, making the sack for a loss of 15 yards. West Ashley managed two more snaps but an incomplete pass and tackle in the backfield by the Fort’s Myles Moultrie ended the game.

“T.J. is a good athlete and he made a play when we needed one,” Fort coach Steve LaPrad said. “It was a tough game, but we did OK. West Ashley has athletes who are as good as ours and they played well so we are happy to get out of here with a win.”

After the teams entered the break tied at 7, West Ashley received the kickoff to open the second half and fumbled the return. Tyler Vasas recovered to give the Patriots a first and 10 at the Wildcat 37.

The Patriots took advantage of the field possession, scoring on a 7-yard run into the end zone by Ja’san Bradley.

West Ashley answered by driving the ball to the Fort 15, but the drive then stalled and they had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Matt Stonaker.

The Patriots followed with an 80-yard drive capped by an 18-yard run into the end zone by Devron Glenn late in the third quarter.

With just under six minutes remaining in the game, Woodhead connected with Jumill Hornsby for a 25-yard touchdown pass to set up the thrilling ending.

In the first half West Ashley got down to business quick, holding the Patriots to three and out on their first possession and then driving 64 yards in seven plays to score. Jamie Rivers had a 35-yard carry on the drive, which was capped by a 1-yard run into the end zone by Woodhead with 7:23 remaining in the opening quarter.

Fort Dorchester answered on its ensuing drive, going 69 yards to score. Glenn had a 17-yard carry on the drive and Ethan Long completed a 17-yard pas to CJ Miller. After being stood up on a run from the 1-yard line, Long pushed forward and into the end zone for the touchdown.

Other than a missed field goal from each team, the second quarter was rather uneventful.

West Ashley rushed for 265 yards to Fort Dorchester’s 153 yards. Woodhead completed 7 of 15 pass attempts for 102 yards. The Patriots completed 7 of 10 pass attempts for 67 yards with Long completing four passes and Glenn completing three.

W – Thomas Woodhead 1 run (Matt Stonaker kick)

F – Ethan Long 1 run (Justin Cooper kick)

F – Ja’san Bradley 7 run (Cooper kick)

W – Stonaker 33 field goal

F – Devron Glenn 17 run (kick blocked)

W – Jumill Hornsby 25 pass from Woodhead (kick blocked)

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