Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

With a new head coach and a new attitude it certainly looked like a completely different Brewer team as the Patriots travelled to Grissom Thursday night to take on the Tigers for their annual jamboree game.

The Patriots came flying out of the gate early as Hunter Swafford connected with Blake Borden for a 61-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game as the Pats took the lead 7-0.

The Patriots defense was fired up as well as they forced the Tigers to punt on the ensuing drive. Brewer would drive down the field once again and even convert a fourth down when Swafford connected with Cole Weaver for 16 yards. However, a couple of sacks would force the Patriots to kick a field goal to make their lead 10-0.

Grissom would finally get their feet under them on the next drive as Jaylin King would bust open a huge 37-yard touchdown run to cut the Brewer lead to 10-7. The next few drives would result in three-and-outs for both squads.

Grissom would get it going next as quarterback Robert Pruitt would break an 82-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers up 14-10 with 10:21 left in the second quarter.

Brewer would answer quickly as Aaron Mcdugald returned the following kickoff 71 yards to the 24-yard line. Brewer would knock it in a few plays later as Swafford connected with Borden once again for the score as the Patriots regained the lead 16-14.

Grissom wasn’t out yet, though. Jaylin King would break a 74-yard run to get all the way down to the Brewer 7-yard line. Evan Mccants would knock it in two plays later to put Grissom on top 21-16 with 6:13 left in the second quarter.

Brewer would put together a steady drive down the field and end it when Swafford connected with Borden for the third time on a 12-yard touchdown throw. Brewer would go for two but fail and still keep the lead at 22-21.

Brewer then got the ball back after forcing a three-and-out and try to score before halftime. They fell short, however, as Michael Long picked off Swafford at the Grissom one-yard line with 46 seconds left in the half.

The third quarter featured less fireworks and more defense as both teams picked up physicality. Brewer managed to make it down to the Grissom 25 before they were stopped. Grissom then took the ball all the way to the Brewer 29 before they were stopped on fourth down as time in the third quarter expired.

That would be the end of the night for the varsity as the score was reset in the fourth quarter for the junior varsity. The lone score of the fourth quarter came on a five-yard touchdown run by J’Sean Nance to give the Grissom JV the lead 7-0.

Brewer varsity took the win 22-21, while the Grissom JV took the 7-0 victory.

New Brewer head coach Geoff Walters was overall pleased with his young team.

“I felt good about the game,” Walters said. “I told them you only get one chance to make a good first impression, and I think they did that. Brewer hasn’t really been known for football, and we’re trying to break that.”

Walters and his Patriots will have their hands full with their next game as they host the Hartselle Tigers, who will surely be fired up and seeking redemption after their season opening loss to Pinson Valley Friday. Brewer will open their season against Hartselle Aug. 28 at home.