East Rankin Academy was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They fell 26-13 to the Winston Academy Patriots. The result was an unpleasant reminder to East Rankin Academy of the 24-10 defeat they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in August of 2023.
Despite the loss, East Rankin Academy still got an impressive performance from Brandon Loper, who rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown on only nine carries. Loper didn't just play on offense: he also made 18 total tackles (2.0 for loss) and defended a pass.
East Rankin Academy's defense was in the mix too, especially the secondary: they snagged two passes before it was all said and done. The picks came courtesy of Brayden Ingram and Luke Wesson. Ingram also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, picking up a sack and making 12 total tackles in addition to snagging an interception. Another thorn in Winston Academy's side was Caden Kopf, who made 17 total tackles (2.0 for loss).
Winston Academy got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Holder Tidwell out in front who threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for 54 yards. Winston Academy also got a significant boost from Jonah Hood, who ran away from the competition to the tune of 85 yards.
East Rankin Academy's loss dropped their record down to 0-3. As for Winston Academy, the win also got them back to even at 1-1.
East Rankin Academy will look to defend their home field on Friday against St. Aloysius at 7:00 p.m. As for Winston Academy, they are taking a road trip to face off against Lamar at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps