Patriots shut out Wando

MOUNT PLEASANT — Wando may as well have gift-wrapped the game ball for Fort Dorchester on Friday night in a 31-0 loss.

The Warriors (3-7) coughed up the ball on two fumbles and an interception in the first half and the Patriots (7-3) turned two of the turnovers into touchdowns en route to a 24-0 lead at the half. The Wando offense didn't even cross midfield in the first three quarters.

On Wando's first possession, quarterback Michael Paul pitched back to Jermaine Wine, who bobbled the ball. Patriots defensive back Laurez Mathews caught the ball in the backfield and returned it 43 yards to put Fort Dorchester up 14-0 with Josh Hall's second PAT kick of the night.

"Good defenses play on the other side of the line of scrimmage, and that's what we are starting to do," Fort Dorchester coach Steve LaPrad said. "We just got back there and made contact. It was nice that the ball popped right into our hands."

In the second quarter, Matthews intercepted a Parker Gaston pass at the Wando 35-yard line to set up another score. Patriots QB Galen Bennett completed three passes to Jamal Hall to set up a first-and-goal at the 5. Then Dante Ravenel, who was playing for the first time in a while without a cast on his arm, finished the drive with a 4-yard run and a 1-yard dive into the end zone.

In the final quarter, Ravenel added another TD from 5 yards out to cap the scoring.

"We came out in the first half and didn't play well on offense," Wando coach Bob Hayes said. "We turned the ball over, and you can't do that against a team like Fort Dorchester. They are a very athletic team and they capitalized on our mistakes and never looked back."

The Patriots also scored on their first possession, when Bennett hit Hall for a 37-yard TD reception. Bennett was 13-of-17 passing for 209 yards and rushed for 52 yards.

F—Jamal Hall 37 pass from Galen Bennett (Josh Hall kick)

F—Laurez Matthews 43 fumble return (Hall kick)

F—Josh Hall 32 field goal

F—Dante Ravenel 1 run (Hall kick)

F—Ravenel 5 run (Hall kick)

Records: Fort Dorchester 7-3; Wando 3-7.

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