By Staff
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
The Robert Peppers' era at Brewer High School started on a sour note Friday night, as the Patriots fell to Fort Payne 40-7.
Brewer's only touchdown of the contest came with 3:58 remaining when quarterback Samuel Mason dove in from one yard out.
Mason, who rushed nine times for 16 yards to lead the team, completed 10 of 20 passes for 59 yards.
Brewer's defense could not contain Fort Payne quarterback Aaron McDaniel in the first half. The junior rushed for 66 yards, two touchdowns, and completed three of four passes for 39 yards in two and a half quarters of play.
McDaniel scored his first touchdown of the day with the Wildcats already leading 7-0. McDaniel set up in the shotgun and ran a quarterback draw up the middle for the score.
The Patriots forced Fort Payne into punting only once in the first half as the Wildcats led 27-0 at halftime.
Brewer received the ball to open the second half, but only one first down later at the 42, the Patriots were forced to punt.
Fort Payne wasted little time reaching the endzone. A 28-yard pass from McDaniel to Nick Hawkins set up a 15-yard touchdown run by the quarterback.
Fort Payne's final touchdown of the night came at the 10:39 mark of the final quarter. Sophomore Andy Farmer reached the endzone on fourth and goal from three yards out.
Brewer appeared destined to score on its very next drive and apparently had on a 32-yard option run by Tony Parise. However, the pitch from Mason to Parise was thrown forward and the touchdown was negated.
Three plays later the Patriots turned over the ball on downs.
But the Wildcats could not hold onto the ball on their ensuing drive, coughing up the pigskin at the 29-yard line for Brewer's Doug Webster to recover.
See BREWER, B-3