Injuries force early ending for Patriots and Indians
Too many penalties and key injuries to both quarterbacks took Palestine-Wheatley out of Friday's game at Marked Tree forcing the officials to call the game with eight minutes remaining in the first half and the Indians in front 34-0.
Friday's loss drops the Patriots to 0-2 for the year, losing both games by a combined 86-0.
Jesse Watlington, who started last week's game at quarterback for the Patriots and backup quarterback Dalton Vick both sustained injuries and were taken from the field and more than likely sidelined for a while.
Watlington was injured with just over seven minutes remaining in the opening quarter and Marked Tree leading 6-0, following B.J. Marshall's 39-yard interception return for a touchdown. Four minutes later, McGuire connected with Marshall on a 38-yard pass to put Marked Tree up 12-0. Vick went down with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half.
Marked Tree quarterback Aiden McGuire threw two touchdown passes, both to B.J. Marshall, and also added rushing and punt return touchdowns. Marshall also returned an interception for a touchdown in the season opener for the Indians (1-0).
Marshall returned an interception 39 yards less than two minutes into the game for Marked Tree’s first points. McGuire threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Marshall at the 6:38 mark of the opening period for a 12-0 lead.
McGuire scored just over two minutes later on a 25-yard punt return and again on an 11yard run. Cameron Marshall caught McGuire’s two-point pass to give the Indians a 26-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Marked Tree’s final touchdown came on McGuire’s 89-yard pass to B.J. Marshall. McGuire’s two-point pass to Aayden Johnson closed the scoring.
McGuire completed 4-of-7 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylen Bradley led Marked Tree in rushing with 51 yards on two carries.
Junior P'Caylin Carter carried most of the rushing load for the Patriots, coming through with big runs from scrimmage, but failing to find the endzone.
Marked Tree failed to convert their first three twopoint conversions.
Palestine-Wheatley is scheduled to make their third road trip of the season Friday to Northpoint Christian Academy in Southaven, Miss., before a scheduled open date on Sept. 17.
With Watlington and Vick sidelined with injuries, the quarterback job could fall to Carter, who took several direct snaps in Friday's game.
"We will have to look at the upcoming Northpoint game," P-W head coach Paxton Crawford said. "They are a larger school and probably will dress around 40 maybe more. This is football and stuff happens and that gives us a lot to think about. The ast two weeks have been rough on the kids and on our staff. Hopefully we can keep on plugging and get the season in."