Pender had already proven themselves in the regular season and they didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They claimed a resounding 60-20 victory over the Gates County Red Barons. Considering the Patriots have won nine matches by more than 31 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Jeremiah Johnson was his usual excellent self, rushing for 175 yards and three touchdowns on only 13 carries. Johnson is crushing it when it comes to rushing yards: he's rushed for at least 106 every time he's taken the field this season. Another player making a difference was Austin Deal, who rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Pender was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 354 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 195 rushing yards in 13 consecutive matchups.
Pender pushed their record up to 10-3 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 64.0 points per game. As for Gates County, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-5.
Pender and Tarboro are set to duel on Friday. One thing working in Tarboro's favor is that they have posted at least 31 points in their last seven games. Gates County does not have any more games scheduled as of now.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
