'Jacks pummel Ellender 56-14

Patterson overcame early turnovers en route to a 56-14 pummeling of Ellender Memorial Friday at the Sugar Dome.
“We had some turnovers early that hurt big time,” Patterson Coach Chad Blanchard said. “We get down there (in the red zone) two or three times and didn’t score. We had a fumble they returned for a touchdown. We’ve got to clean up those mistakes, especially with district starting.”
Patterson rolled up 369 yards rushing, led by Tristen Ausama’s 134 yards and Sirbatian Charles’ 128 yards. It was Charles’ second consecutive 100-yard game.
The ‘Jacks got on the scoreboard first, converting a Nehemiah Augustus interception into points.
Patterson (2-2) took over on Ellender’s 38-yard line and went on a six-play drive that Ausama capped with a 13-yard dash into the end zone with 5:29 remaining in the first quarter. The ‘Jacks had an errant snap on the point after kick, so Patterson led 6-0.
Ellender got a 33-yard run from quarterback Curtis Anderson to give the Patriots a 1st-and-10 at the Patterson 19-yard line.
After losing a yard on first down, Anderson found Richard Green for a 20-yard touchdown with 3:48 remaining in the first quarter. The Patriots two-point conversion run failed so the game was tied at 6.
Charles answered Anderson’s big run with a 45-yarder to setup Patterson’s next score.
Two plays later, Charles hooked up with D.J. Jones for a 35-yard touchdown with 2:24 remaining in the opening quarter. Charles then hit Augustus for a two-point conversion to extend the lead to 14-6.
Charles finished the game 10-of-16 passing for 121 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Dominique Washington and Charlie Kelly combined for sack to stifle Ellender’s next possession, giving the ball back to the offense as the first quarter came to an end with Patterson ahead 14-6.
The ‘Jacks took over again in Ellender’s territory and marched down to the 2-yard line before fumbling. Ellender’s Montae Smitherman picked up the ball and raced 98 yards for a touchdown with 7:57 remaining in the half. The Patriots’ two-point conversion run was good to tie the game at 14.
Patterson turned the ball over again on its next possession when Charles’ pass was tipped and intercepted. Patterson’s defense, however, held again, forcing Ellender to punt.
“I thought the defense played great the entire game,” Blanchard said. “We had several kids step up and make some big plays on that side of the ball. Then we got hot on offense to take control of the game late in the second quarter.”
The ‘Jacks scored two touchdowns in the last 3:29 of the quarter to put the Patriots on the ropes.
D.J. Jones broke loose for 31 yards on a punt return before Ausama raced 43-yards for a touchdown with 3:29 remaining in the first half. Christian Soria added the extra point kick for a 21-14 Patterson lead.
Tyric Singleton recovered an Ellender fumble with 3:12 remaining in the half, giving the ball back to the Patterson offense at the Patriots’ 34-yard line. Patterson pounded the ball down to the 9-yard line with Ausama before Charles connected with Ausama out of the backfield for a 9-yard score with under a minute remaining in the half. Soria’s kick pushed the ‘Jacks lead to 28-14 at halftime.
Ausama added his third rushing touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter. Soria’s kick gave Patterson a 35-14 lead.
Augustus took Ellender’s next punt 54 yards for touchdown to push Patterson’s lead to 42-14 with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter.
Dajon Richard recovered another Ellender fumble to open the fourth quarter. The Patriots had six turnovers in the game, four fumbles and two interceptions.
Patterson turned Richard’s fumble recovery into points with Charles darting into the end zone on an 11-yard run with 6:39 remaining for a 49-14 lead.
Washington secured the next Ellender fumble and Dontre Nicholas scored on a 15-yard run for Patterson’s final score of the night with 1:07 remaining.
Nicholas replaced Ausama and carried eight times for 63 yards and a score.
Senior linebacker Blake Dreyer ended the game with a fumble recovery with 49 seconds left.
Patterson will return to action Friday when it opens District 8-3A play hosting Kaplan (2-2).

EM PHS
First downs: 8 21
Rushing yards: 81 369
Passing yards: 28 121
Total yards: 109 490
A-C-Hi 11-7-2 16-10-1
Pen.-yards: 7-50 5-30
Fumbles-lost: 4-4 2-1

Score by Quarters
EM 6 8 0 0 = 14
PHS 14 14 14 14 = 56

Scoring Summary
First Quarter
PHS: Tristen Ausama 13-yard run. (Kick failed) 5:29

EM: Richard Green 20-yard pass from Curtis Anderson (run failed) 3:40

PHS: D.J. Jones 35-yard pass from Sirbatian Charles. (Pass good) 2:24

Second Quarter
EM: Montae Smitherman 98-yard fumble return (run good) 7:57

PHS: Ausama 43-yard run. (Christian Soria kick) 3:29

PHS: Ausama 9-yard pass from Charles. (Soria kick) 0:50

Third Quarter
PHS: Ausama 5-yard run. (Soria kick) 7:23

PHS: Nehemiah Augustus 54-yard punt return. (Soria kick) 4:32

Fourth Quarter
PHS: Charles 11-yard run. (Soria kick) 6:39

PHS: Dontre Nicholas 15-yard run. (Soria kick) 1:07

Passing
Sirbatian Charles, 10-16-0, 121 yds., 2 TDs

Receiving
D.J. Jones, 3-51 yds., TD; Tristen Ausama, 3-14, TD; Brennan Gouaux, 1-20; Jordan Butler, 1-24; Nehemiah Augustus, 1-6; Khyri Harris, 1-6.

Rushing
Tristen Ausama, 21-134, 3 TDs; Sirbatian Charles, 12-128; Dontre Nicholas, 8-63, TD; D.J. Jones, 4-38; Augustus, 2-6.