HobbsDailyReport.com
MORGANTON – Facing its first game without its star quarterback, Patton High responded by taking care of business and beating visiting R-S Central 64-29 on Friday night.
PATTON 64
R-S CENTRAL 29
Running back William Brawley, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, scored five touchdowns as the Panthers (1-1) evened their record in another high-scoring game. Last week, visiting Huss beat Patton 49-20.
The Panthers lost quarterback Joe Eakin, a three-year starter, to an injury against Huss and put Ty Causby, their backup quarterback, under center against the Hilltoppers (1-1) on Friday night.
Brawley — who had two games with more than 200 rushing yards last season (including 320 against Wilkes Central) — ran for nearly 255 yards against R-S Central. He scored five times in a game that eventually reached the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s mercy rule of a running clock.
Eakin’s status is uncertain as far as when he might be able to return to the lineup.
The Panthers, who won eight games last year under head coach Tom Eanes, have seven straight games before their bye week. They are at home on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against McDowell, the team R-S Central beat 20-14 to open the season.
Five of Patton’s first six games are at home, and the Panthers have seven home games this season on an 11-game schedule.
Patton’s road games are Sept. 15 at East Rutherford, Sept. 29 at Draughn, Oct. 13 at West Iredell and Nov. 3, the final night of the regular season, at Hibriten.