STAFF REPORTS
WALNUT GROVE — West End put together one of its best offensive showings of the season Friday night, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Cleveland in a 33-26 Class 2A, Region 6 shootout at Patriot Stadium.
The loss drops the Patriots to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in region play, while Cleveland evened its record at 2-2 (1-1). The victory also tied the all-time series between the schools at 17-17, with the Panthers having now won 13 of the last 14 meetings between the schools.
Cleveland jumped out to a 15-0 lead behind two early touchdowns from Hayden Gerlott — a 6-yard first-quarter score and a 31-yard run in the second. The Panthers also forced a safety to build a double-digit cushion.
West End finally broke through in the third quarter on a 10-yard strike from quarterback Jaxon Hamby to Conner Walker, cutting the Panthers lead to 15-6.
Gerlott answered with a 3-yard run before Hamby and Walker connected again, this time from 32 yards out, to keep the Patriots within striking distance and cut Cleveland’s lead to 21-13.
Gerlott ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the third quarter to push the lead back up to 27-13, but West End responded instantly. Running back Fysher Patterson broke loose for a 65-yard sprint to the end zone, trimming back the deficit to 27-20 heading into the fourth.
The Patriots pulled to within one point early in the final period when Hamby raced 48 yards for a touchdown, making it 27-26. But Cleveland delivered the knockout punch on Gerlott’s fourth rushing touchdown of the night, a 6-yard run with 4:06 left, sealing the Panthers’ 33-26 win.
West End piled up 374 yards of offense — 252 on the ground and 122 through the air. Hamby went 10-of-20 passing for 122 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while also rushing for 79 yards and a score. Patterson carried 15 times for 143 yards and a touchdown, while Jud Bunch added 30 yards on five attempts.
Walker was Hamby’s top target, hauling in six passes for 102 yards and both touchdown grabs. Patterson, Braxton Walker, Cody Campbell and Brayden Mitchell also had receptions.
Defensively, Hamby picked off a pass and Bronson Winters recovered a fumble to help keep the Patriots in contention.
Cleveland finished with 348 total yards — 292 on the ground and 56 through the air. Gerlott led all rushers with four touchdowns on runs of 6, 31, 3 and 75 yards.
West End will step out of region play next week, traveling to Vinemont (3-2).
