HobbsDailyReport.com
MORGANTON – Sophomore quarterback Jayden Birchfield threw for more than 100 yards in each half Friday night, leading Freedom High to a 31-14 win over Patton.
Birchfield threw for two touchdowns in the first half and closed with more than 280 yards passing as the Patriots (3-1) ran their all-time record against the Panthers to 11-1.
FREEDOM 31
PATTON 14
Freedom gained the lead for good in second quarter when Birchfield threw 9 yards to Christian Fox, ending an drive of more than 80 yards, and making it 14-7 with about eight minutes left to play in the opening half.
The Patriots were up 17-7 at the half after getting a 22-yard field goal by Onyx Velez.
Patton (2-2) closed within three points with the first score of the second half, a 36-yard TD run by William Brawley. He had nearly 100 rushing yards in the first half and opened the game’s scoring with a 59-yard TD run.
Freedom answered Brawley’s score about two minutes later via Birchfield’s TD pass to Tristian Somerville, and two minutes later – on a 58-yard pass to Kelvis Dula – the Patriots extended their lead to 31-14.
Freedom has won all six games in the series at Patton and had last won there in a first-round state playoff game in 2015.
Patton’s only win in the series came last year at Freedom, 35-28.
The Patriots now enjoy a bye week as they head into Northwestern 3A-4A play on Sept. 22 by facing St. Stephens in Morganton.
Patton, playing its first season in the Northwestern Foothills 2A, finishes its non-conference schedule on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at East Rutherford.
The first conference game for the Panthers is Sept. 22 at home against Fred T. Foard.