Big second half keeps the Brag Rag in Patterson

By JUDE TARVER
Special to the Review
Berwick-Patterson is one of the grittiest rivalries in South Louisiana. To the players on both sides of the field, the game just means more. The winner of the game gets to take home the Brag Rag and a trophy.
Outside the rivalry, a lot was on the line for these two teams. Patterson came into the matchup 0-7 looking for a first win, while Berwick desperately needed a win to keep its playoff chances alive.
Patterson emerged with its first 2024 win, 32-27.
As Patterson kicked the ball off, both teams knew they needed to take care of business.
The Panthers started the game with a statement. Cole Morris carried most of the drive, touching the ball on almost every play, except for a fourth-down pass when Evan Crappell threw it 6 yards to Carter Whipple and moved the chains. Shortly after, Morris ran it in from 25 out to give the Panthers an early 7-0 lead.
Patterson responded to Berwick’s opening drive touchdown with one of their own. The Lumberjacks picked up some crucial third downs and capped the drive with a 21-yard Jarrad Williams touchdown run.
Berwick would shut down the Lumberjacks the rest of the half. Patterson struggled to move the ball following the Willams touchdown while the opposite was happening for Berwick. Jason Matthews would score two rushing touchdowns for the Black and Gold, giving them a 21-6 lead at halftime.
This was one of Berwick’s best halves all season. The offense was clicking, the defense was constantly getting stops, and they had a comfortable lead against their biggest rival. The script the Panthers worked on all week was going accordingly, the last thing they needed was for it to be flipped.
Patterson received the second-half kickoff and came out sizzling. Quarterback Hayven Keller completed a rocket down the field which put Patterson on the 2 yard-line. Shortly after they ran it into the endzone from two yards out, making the score 21-12. On Berwick’s first play of the second half, Sampey would fumble, and Patterson would recover.
Not long after the fumble, Keller would throw a 35-yard touchdown to Jamall Pollard, making it a 21-18 game.
Patterson looked like a completely different team to start the third quarter. The offense was playing very well, and while the defense played only one snap, they forced a turnover. It almost seemed like Patterson and Berwick were doing their best impression of “Freaky Friday,” because the two teams just looked the same, just were playing a lot differently in half number two.
Berwick second drive of the half would prove that half No. 2 was indeed a nightmare and not a fever dream as after almost throwing an interception Berwick would get their punt blocked and returned for a touchdown. Patterson would take the lead for the fist time all game, 25-21. Following the blocked punt for a touchdown, Berwick would put together a nice drive on offense. Sampey had multiple 10-plus-yard runs that would position Berwick inside the red zone. Berwick’s good luck would end after Crappell fumbled on a scramble attempt.
Patterson would then score points off the turnover after a long drive that consisted of mostly run plays, and a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Daylan Jones.
The score, which was once 21-6 Berwick, was now 32-21 Patterson.
Berwick, now needing a touchdown more than ever, needed to rekindle the first half offense that scored three touchdowns. After multiple clutch throws from Crappell, Sampey would run it in from 1 yard out to make the game 32-27 and give some late game hope.
With about 2 minutes remaining Berwick still had a chance to reclaim the Brag Rag, just needed a stop from the defense for the first time this half, and that is exactly what they got. Patterson punted the ball away for the first time with less than 2 minutes remaining, but it came at no better time. Now with all the momentum on their side, Berwick had the perfect chance to get their script back on track.
As the Panthers lined up for what they hoped was the last drive of the half, that was the one thing going through their mind. The last thing they even wanted to think about was turning the ball over, but that is what happened.
Crappell threw an interception on the first play of the drive ending the game for the Panthers. Patterson would end up winning 32-27, keeping the Brag Rag in Patterson, its home since 2019.
This Friday, the Panthers play their last home game against the 3-5 Donaldsonville Tigers. Patterson will play at 5-2 St. James.