MINT HILL, NC – Darryl McFadden, Indy’s class of 2006, earned his first career win as a head coach as the Patriots pulled away in the first half for a 51-0 non-conference win over the Hopewell Titans Friday night at Independence High School.
Hopewell took the opening kickoff on its own 35-yard line but soon turned the ball over to the Patriots on a Joe Reddish interception on the Titans 45-yard line with 11:12 showing on the game clock.
Unable to mount a drive, Indy punted and Hopewell took possession on its own 13-yard line. Indy’s defense held the Titans for no gain. On third down the Titans’ quarterback wanted to pass but the Patriot defense applied strong pressure causing Hopewell quarterback to be called for intentional grounding. The penalty moved the ball back to the Titans’ one-half-yard line. Kicking out of their own end zone, Indy’s Tyree Glenn blocked the punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchdown. The point after by Daniel Locklear made the score 7-0 with 9:06 remaining in the first quarter.
Indy struck again when running back Amari Hakeem scores on a 12-yard run, and Locklear made the point after to increase the score to 14-0 with 3:15 left in the first period.
After the ensuing kickoff, the Titans attempted a sideline pass but Indy’s Joe Reddish picked off the pass and returned it for a 26-yard touchdown. Daniel Locklear’s kick made the score 21-0.
As the second quarter got underway, Hopewell was forced to punt giving the Patriots the ball on their own 40-yard line. Indy moved the ball down to the Titans’ 30-yard line. And with 11:04 remaining in the first half, Kaden Thomas scored on a 30-yard touchdown run. The point after was good, and Indy extended its lead to 28-0.
After Indy’s kickoff, Hopewell was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt. Indy turned the ball back over to the Titans on a fumble. However, Indy got the ball back and drove down to the 16-yard line. Facing a fourth and long, coach McFadden called on Daniel Locklear for the field goal. Locklear’s kick split the uprights, and the Patriots took a 31-0 lead with 2:45 showing on the game clock.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Titans fumbled the ball and Indy’s Jaylen Springs recovered the loose ball on the Titans’ 30-yard line. After a Cameron Kromah pass to Jeremiah Palmer, Shaun Soloman scored on an 11-yard run moving Indy out to a 38-0 halftime lead.
The Patriots took the second-half kickoff on its own 15-yard line. Indy moved the ball down the field, crossed the fifty, and had a first and ten on Titans’ 40-yard line. With nine minutes showing on the clock, Cameron Kromah handed the ball to Amari Hakeem who ran for a 40-yard touchdown. Locklear’s extra point was good, to and Indy was up 45-0.
That score put the Mercy Rule into effect and the teams played the rest of the game with a continuous running clock. The third quarter ended with Indy leading 45-0.
In the fourth quarter, Indy drove the ball down to the Titans’ 20-yard line. Quarterback Cameron Kromah connected with Jaylen Springs for a touchdown catch in the end zone to give Independence a 51-0 victory over the visiting Hopewell Titans.
The Patriots had 405 yards of offense with 289 yards coming from the rushing game and 116 passing yards. Independence has a bye next week.
The Patriots will return to action on September 24, 2021, at Charlotte Catholic,
