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That Patterson name has become synonymous with CPA football. On Saturday, that name added another chapter to Lion lore.
Prior to twin brothers Preston and Rawls ever taking the field for a varsity game, they watched their older brothers Kane and Langston lead the Lions to multiple state titles. Now the two have cemented a spot of their own.
Just moments after Rawls gave CPA the lead, Preston clinched the 31-24 win over Brentwood Academy in the waning seconds.
“Brentwood Academy’s one of the best team’s in the state so being able to come out like that is huge,” Rawls said. “I think our grit and all of our hard work in the summer is what got us through tonight. My brother comes up with the big play at the end and that’s the most exciting thing you can watch.”
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When CPA needed them the most, both brothers came up big.
Rawls started things off in the first quarter breaking off a long run that set up a chip shot field goal. In the closing minutes of the first half he struck again taking a screen pass 61 yards to tie the game at 17 entering halftime.
The Lions’ junior back put his final stamp on the game 6:30 remaining scoring from a few yards out to give CPA back the lead.
Brentwood Academy had one last opportunity in the final 30 seconds to even the game at 31. The Eagles blocked a CPA punt and set up shot inside the Lions’ 25 with 33 seconds remaining.
One play later, Preston read a George MacIntye pass like a tee, picked it off and took off down the sideline before finally being brought down with a few seconds remaining.
“We knew what they wanted to do coming in,” Preston said. “We knew that he (George) wanted to throw crossers up the middle or screens on the edges. Our defenisve line got pressure on him and we were able to get it done.”
Special teams matter
While the Patterson’s stole the headlines, each teams special teams unit came in a close second.
The game opened with back-to-back touchdown returns by CPA’s Weston Parker and Brentwood Academy’s Neo Clifton. Clifton would break off another long return the next time a ball was kicked to him.
Punting also became a bit of a problem for both sides late as well.
With just under nine minutes remaining in the game and the score tied at 24, the Eagles went to punt the ball away from deep in their own territory. A bad snap prevented the kick from ever getting off giving CPA great starting field position.
They would go on to take advantage of that with Rawls’ second touchdown with as Rawls’ scored the night’s final points with 6:30 remaining.
Brentwood Academy would get its opportunity to make another special teams play in the game’s final minute.
CPA attempted a punt from their side of 50 but it was blocked. The blocked punt gave the Eagles the ball on the Lions’ 25 with 33 seconds remaining. Thankfully for CPA, Preston was there on the very next play to prevent any hope of overtime.
“”The thing I’m most proud of is that we got a lot of guys who hadn’t played much meaninful high school football and they got a taste of it tonight,” CPA coach Ingle Martin said. “Tonight, playing this game, it’s as good of an environment as they’ll ever be in. For them to “
“Preston’s done an amazing job,” CPA coach Ingle Martin said. “I talked to their dad Wes and he’s tracking like his two older brothers. He’s going to be a college linebacker and he’s doing everything we ask him to do.”
