The Drew Central Pirates returned home to Mike Pennington Stadium on the campus of Drew Central High School on Friday night to celebrate their 2024 Homecoming.
Before kickoff against the Barton Bears, Drew Central would present to the Pirate Nation the 2024 Homecoming Court that was anchored by Homecoming Queen Bailey Chapman.
After the Homecoming presentation the Pirates would take the field to face the Barton Bears.
Barton would win the coin toss and would receive the football to begin the contest.
Drew Central’s Hunter Griffin would attempt an onside kick but Quinteryon Wilson would fall on the ball at the Barton 49.
Jack Sexton would connect with Wilson on the first pass of the contest for a 32 yard reception to the Drew Central 19 yard line.
Qulan Green would run the ball to the one on the next two carries and Sexton would get the one yard score on the next play.
Landon Hernandez added the extra point to give the Bears a 7-0 lead.
Drew Central would begin their first drive of the contest at their own 35 yard line and would move the ball into Barton territory on the first play of the drive on a 16 yard run by Jaden Jones.
The Pirates would get on the board with 7:23 on the clock after a 22 yard run by Jaden Jones.
Griffin added the extra point for the 7-7 tie.
The Bears would get a break on their next drive after a Sexton interception was nullified by a pass interference call to give the Bears a first down.
Barton would get the ball down to the Drew Central seven with Derleen Daniels completing the drive on the seven yard run for the score.
After the extra point, the Bears led 14-7 with 3:07 remaining in the quarter.
Beginning at their own 44 on the next Pirate drive, the Pirates would move into Bear territory on a run by Tre’Bennett Fuller to the 49.
A holding penalty by the Pirates would move the ball back to the Drew Central 47, but the Bears would be drawn offsides to move the ball back to the Barton 48.
Fuller would connect with Zae Bullard on the next play as time expired in the quarter for the 48 yard touchdown.
After the extra point, the game was tied at 14 heading into the second quarter.
Barton would drive down to Drew Central four on their next possession but Green would be hit by Michael Butcher at the three yard line forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Pirates’ Torrian Suggs at the one yard line to give Drew Central the turnover.
The Pirates would be forced to punt on their next drive with Barton taking over at the Drew Central 41.
On the first play of the drive, Calvin Jones would break free for the 41 yard score.
After the extra point, the Bears led 21-14.
It would be the final score of the half.
Drew Central would receive the ball to begin the second half but the drive would not materialize with the Pirates punting the ball away.
Barton would also punt the ball on their possession and on the next Pirate possession, the Bears would force a turnover after Thomas Patterson recovered a fumble at the Barton 39.
Another punt by Barton on the next possession, and on the next Pirate drive, Drew Central would tie the contest on a 72 touchdown reception from Fuller to Jeremiah Bodiford.
Griffin added the extra point to even the game at 21.
Barton’s next drive would extend into the fourth quarter with the Bears missing a second field goal attempt with 6:05 remaining in the contest.
Drew Central would cover 80 yards on their next possession with Fuller capping the drive with a 40 yard touchdown run, but the extra point attempt was not successful as the Pirates took a 27-21 lead with 2:17 remaining in the contest.
On what would be Barton’s final possession of the contest, the Pirate defense would force a fourth down deep in Barton territory, but Sexton would connect with Jones for a first down at the Drew Central 34. The Pirates would also be flagged for a 15 yard personal foul penalty that moved the ball to the 19.
After an incompletion, Sexton would be sacked at the Drew Central 24 on the next play and would follow with two incomplete passes to turn the ball over on downs with 44 seconds remaining in the contest which allowed Fuller to take a knee and run out the clock for the Pirate win.
The Pirates are now one win away from securing a playoff spot, travelling to Palestine-Wheatley on Friday night to face the Patriots at 7 pm.