October 14
October 14, 2008October 16
October 16, 2008
The Patterson Lumberjacks scored 42 total points against the E.D. White Cardinals Friday night.
Kenny Hilliard scored 21 points by himself in the Lumberjacks’ 42-7 win over the Cardinals.
He also had more offensive yards than the entire Cardinal offense.
Basically, Friday night became the Kenny Hilliard Show.
He surpassed the 200 yard mark (288 yards on 31 carries) for the first time this season and scored three touchdowns in one game for the fourth time in five games.
For Patterson head coach Tommy Minton, Hilliard picked the right time to put up numbers, as it was the District 7-3A opener for both teams.
Even when the Lumberjacks (3-2, 1-0) held a slight 6-0 lead at halftime, there was no doubt the second half game plan would involve a lot of Hilliard.
“He’s our workhorse and that’s our game,” Minton said. “We were going to try and spread the ball out with our receivers and then pound the big boy in there.”
Patterson quarterback Terrance Johnson benefited the most, as he was able to throw two touchdown passes (38 yards to Josh Jones) and fun for another (9 yards).
E.D. White head coach Kyle Lasseigne said his team learned first hand why Patterson is a heavy favorite in 3-A.
The coach credited his team’s effort, taking a 7-6 lead with 8:53 to play in the third quarter.
However, he scolded their execution as they failed to convert on two Lumberjack fumbles.
“We played as hard as we can. I can’t fault our effort, I can just fault our execution,” he said. “Hilliard is a very good player, and this is a very good football team. We didn’t get it done for the entire four quarters.”
It also didn’t help the Cardinals that their starting quarterback Tyler Duplantis was out with a knee injury.
The decision not to play Duplantis was made prior to game time. Grant Chiasson filled in. Chiasson rushed for 78 of the Cardinals 98 yards and threw and caught a five-yard touchdown pass from John Daigle on a halfback pass.
“He had a knee problem. He wasn’t moving real well and against these guys the quarterback has got to move the ball a little bit,” Lasseigne said. “I didn’t feel like it was fair to get him out there.”
The first of Hilliard’s scores came with :59 to play before halftime, as he scampered in from 8 yards out.
With his team down one, Hilliard found paydirt a second time with 3:42 to play in the third, to put the Lumberjacks ahead 14-7.
His final score came with 2:13 remaining in the fourth on a 12-yard run.
It may sound like a near perfect game, but Minton said there is still a lot of work to be done.
“We need to cut down on putting the ball on the ground. We lost two of them,” he said. “If we get into a close ball game, we can’t have that.”
Up next for the Lumberjacks, another district foe as they travel to cross town rival Berwick.
It’ll be the first time the Panthers (4-1,1-0) have a winning record when the two teams play in nearly 12 years.
Minton said he is expecting a battle, but believes if his team can hold on to the ball, they should win.
“It’s a rivalry,” he said. “We play for the bragging tower. It’s been one-sided the last few years, but they are an improved team. We’re going to have to prepare just like we prepared tonight.”
If that’s the case, another heavy dose of Hilliard will be in the mix.
E.D. White’s Grant Chiasson attempts to run past Patterson defender Willis Verdine Friday night. The Lumberjacks used a three-touchdown performace from Kenny Hilliard to win 42-7 in the district 7-3A opener for both teams. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER
