JONES BENCHED, PATS GET DEMOLISHED, 38-3
defensive scores.
Patriots center David Andrews said the entire team had to look itself in the mirror after to try to correct everything.
“I think we all have some confidence issues after a performance like that,” Andrews said.
Jones said he’ll try to put the loss behind him.
“For me, just bury it, try to learn from it and move on,” Jones said. “And try not to make it turn into another loss.”
The Patriots’ offense looked worse than it did at any point last season with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge running the show. Jones came out firing and looked solid through the first quarter, leading the Patriots on an opening eight-play, 69-yard field goal-scoring drive, until he attempted to evade pressure by running upfield on second and 12 with 11:17 left in the second quarter. Linebacker Dante Fowler caught him from behind for a strip-sack that was recovered by linebacker Leighton Vander Esch for a defensive touchdown.
Jones was nearly intercepted on the Patriots’ next drive — a three-and-out — on a risky pass to veteran wide receiver Devante Parker.
Then after an eight-play, 27yard drive that saw right guard Mike Onwenu commit his third penalty of the game — this one a holding call after two false starts — Jones threw a pick-six to cornerback Daron Bland on an ill-advised cross-field throw to Kendrick Bourne on secondand-10 with 1:07 left in the half.
The Cowboys led 28-3 (there would be no comeback this time against a Dan Quinn-led defense) off of the two defensive touchdowns, the first of which was followed by a successful two-point conversion on a fake extra point, two 23-yard field goals and a 20-yard pass from quarterback Dak Prescott to top wide receiver Ceedee Lamb one play after rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez left the game with a shoulder injury. That left Myles Bryant on Lamb in an advantageous matchup for the Cowboys.
Gonzalez did not return to the game.
The second half didn’t start any better for Jones, who was picked off again by Bland on a fourth-and-2 passing attempt to wide receiver Juju Smithschuster. Bland simply outmuscled Smith-schuster for the ball. The Cowboys responded offensively with a field goal.
After one more three-and-out, Jones was benched for Bailey
tiful at 1A Auto Field, the Patriots have a sharp focus and aren’t getting ahead of themselves.
“The whole focus has been to go 1-0 this week, then 1-0 when the next week rolls around,” head
coach Jordan Murphy said. “We don’t look too far ahead. We’re getting the results we want at 4-0.”
The Patriots have been putting up points at a prolific rate and doing so in a number of ways. Reardon can air the ball out to dependable receivers like Cade Callahan, Darien Crawford or younger brother Brady Reardon and is just as capable
as a runner with the ball in his hands.
The senior signal caller isn’t the only player on the Patriots willing to take off with the ball on the ground. Classmate Jackson Hendley mixes speed and power and put both on display Friday night with three touchdowns in the opening quarter.
“We’ve got guys who
try to spread the wealth,” Murphy said. “It keeps defenses honest having to defend multiple positions and multiple guys and spread it out on the field. They do a good job.”
The defense of North Middlesex hasn’t been slacking in this run of success, giving up an average of 5.5 points per game. Defensive lineman Hunter
Dunklee and defensive back David Babin were all over the field Friday night, leading a strong effort that resulted in a shutout.
The Patriots will be at home for their next test. North Middlesex will look to go 1-0 on the week and improve to 5-0 on the season when Northbridge (2-2) visits 1A Auto Field at 4 p.m. on Saturday.