Ironmen top Jays without starting QB
DANVILLE — Injuries meant that both Central Columbia and Danville got to show what the future holds for both programs Friday night.
Based on Danville’s 47-6 victory, the Ironmen hold a clear advantage over the Blue Jays.
Central, though, showed that there is raw talent on its depth chart, scoring a touchdown in garbage time and holding the Ironmen to six second-half points.
The story, however, was Ironmen freshman quarterback, Madden Patrick, making his debut for the injured Zach Gordon.
Patrick was perfect through nine throws, finishing 11-of-12 for 181 yards and three touchdowns — each coming in the first half.
Patrick credits his offseason routine and Ty Stauffer’s 5-yard touchdown on the game’s first drive with calming any nerves he had.
“I felt comfortable during the entire summer, but it really started to kick in on the first drive when we marched down the field and scored,” Patrick said. “... [The first touchdown] was a momentum boost and we just knew that we could get the wheels moving and play Ironmen football.”
“Ironmen football” consisted of scoring touchdowns on their first six drives with Patrick finding Hayden Winn for an 8-yard touchdown on the second drive.
He later capped off a two-play, 55-yard drive by finding Carson Persing on a great strike for a 17-yard score. Persing set the Ironmen up with a 38-yard run the play before, showing his versatility on an end-around.
The duo connected again just before halftime when Patrick found Persing deep in the end zone for a 3-yard score.
“It was one step in the journey for him, and I’m proud of him,” Danville coach Mike Brennan said of Patrick. “He came out this week, got himself ready and made good decisions.
“We asked him to make good decisions with the ball, distribute it to our guys and take care of the football. He did all of those things tonight.”
Danville’s offensive line not only made time for Patrick but created running lanes.
After Mason Raup intercepted Central’s Greyson Shaud on the first play of the second quarter, the Danville line created plenty of daylight for Aaron Johnson to go 13 yards untouched on the ensuing play.
Stauffer later added a 17-yard touchdown of his own, finishing with 86 yards on 18 carries.
“Our offensive linemen took a lot of pride [in themselves] tonight,” Brennan said. “That was their most physical game of the year... They all did well, and to go down and strike first made them feel good and play well throughout.”
Cameron Kiersch accounted for the Ironmen’s last six points, a 13-yard touchdown early in the fourth. All told, the Ironmen posted 396 yards of total offense.
Danville’s defense was just as impressive, hurrying to ball carriers and making all three quarterbacks make quick judgments or get sacked — doing that four times.
Central coach Scott Dennis knew the Blue Jays were going to be tested, and despite the results, had a lot of good to take away.
“We didn’t go in yelling or screaming as coaches,” Dennis said of their halftime adjustments. “This was the first really good football team they’ve faced. They were in awe, their eyes were as big as saucers and we told them to just come out and play some football.
“They did and I thought they played well. [Danville] kept their starters in for a couple series and I’m glad they did because it allowed us to measure up in the second half.”
The Ironmen were stopped on their first possession of the second half, and Central later avoided a shutout when third-string quarterback Ryan Hons connected with Cole Bradley on a slant route in the fourth.
The Blue Jays amassed a football field length of total yards, with Hons and Bradley accounting for 51 of those.
“Every rep gives them an opportunity to get better and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Dennis said. “I think their eyes were opened a little bit tonight.”
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