LINDEN-Marengo Academy started strong, but in the end the Patrician attack proved to be too much as the Longhorns fell 50-22 in their region opener.

In the opening quarter the Longhorns looked to be on their way to an upset win. After allowing Patrician to march down the field on their opening drive to take an 8-0 lead Marengo responded with 15 points of their own.

With just over six minutes to play in the first quarter Marengo began an 86 yard scoring drive that would swing the momentum of the game in their favor. Jeremy Averette capped the five-play drive as he broke for 60 yards breaking multiple tackles to go in for the score with 3:39 remaining in the quarter. Trey Lyles would find Drew Robinson in the end zone for the two point conversion to tie the score 8-8.

Marengo took advantage of a short field on their next possession as they began a two-play touchdown drive from the Saint 26 yard line. This time Lyles would call his own number taking the ball in from 10 yards out to put the Longhorns ahead 14-8 with 3:13 remaining in the first quarter. Ty Glass sent the extra point right down the middle to give the Longhorns a 15-8 lead.

It was at that point that the Saint offense awoke and began to churn. Patrician rolled off a seven-play 56-yard drive capped with a six-yard Beau Meeks score. The point after would fail leaving the Saints behind 15-14.

They would not stay behind for long. Brandon Mosley took the next Longhorn punt all the way back to the Marengo 30 yard line. Five plays later they were back in the end zone as Barry Meeks carried the load for a 12 yard score. Meeks took care of business again on the two-point conversion attempt to put Patrician up 22-15 midway through the second quarter.

The Saints got a gift when a Marengo punt attempt was mishandled. Patrician would force a stop behind the line of scrimmage taking the ball at the Longhorn 28 yard-line. The Saints needed only 25 seconds for Bonner to find Beau Meeks on a middle screen that would go for 29 yards and another score. The point after failed giving the Saints a 28-15 edge.

Marengo’s Lyles stepped in front of a Bonner pass on the Saints next possession to give the Longhorns great field position at the Patrician 49. However, Lance Gibson returned the favor two plays later with a pick of his own to set up the Saints final scoring drive of the half.

The Saints would make the most of the 2:28 left on the clock in the half driving 78 yards in seven plays to give themselves a little more breathing room before the half. Bonner would slip around right end for a five yard score and Phillip Hoelzle would add the PAT to put Patrician up 35-15 at the half.

Patrician picked up right where they left off in the second half. On their third play from scrimmage Bonner found Mosley behind Longhorn defenders for an 89 yard score. Bonner would run the ball in for the two -point conversion to up the score to 43-15.

On their next possession the Saints would go to the ground, but have similar results. Patrician began to grind the clock and would not find the end zone until the 11:54 mark in the fourth quarter. This time reserve running back Aaro Kusanen took the ball right up the middle for a seven yard score. Hoelzle was good with the extra point capping the Saints scoring and giving them a 50-15 lead.

Marengo proved they were not ready to throw in the towel on their next possession as they gained yards in chunks before finding pay dirt. Hagen Kaylor rolled off a 59 yard run followed by a long Lyles pass to John Cox Miller to put Marengo deep in Saint territory. Averette finished the drive with authority plowing in for Marengo’s final score of the night. Glass knocked the extra point through leaving the score at 50-22 with 3:25 left in the game.

Though Marengo started strong, they were hampered by last weeks open date. Marengo coach Jesse Little said the open date had hurt to a certain extent, but they were not making excuses.

“It was tough to have that week off,” Little said. “It was tough not to play last week, but they had a week off too.”

Little said they just couldn’t capitalize on the momentum when it was flowing their way.

“We started off good, but Patrician has a good ball team,” Little said. “We have just got to get better.”

Marengo, 1-1 will try to get back on the winning track next week as they host Jackson for homecoming. Kickoff will be 7:30 p.m.