LINDEN — The Linden High School Patriots continued their theme from last year, using a devastating defense to sweep their scrimmage on Friday night, beating St. Jude 20-0 and Southern Choctaw 27-6.

The junior varsity also got into the act, blanking the Southern Choctaw JV team 6-0 to open the scrimmage.

Southern Choctaw shut out St. Jude 15-0 in those teams’ game.

Against St. Jude, Terry Hinton got LHS on the scoreboard with a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 6:19 left in the first of two quarters. The extra-point kick by Gerald Bruno gave Linden a 7-0 lead. On the first play of the second quarter, Kendarius Fritts took a 33-yard TD run to boost the Patriot lead to 14-0 following the point-after kick.

Keiunta Goodwill closed out the scoring in the game with a seven-yard touchdown run with 1:50 left.

In Linden’s second varsity scrimmage of the day, the Patriots used an aerial assault to score, as quarterback Anthony Robinson hit Bruno on a 20-yard pass with 6:00 left in the first quarter. Bruno drilled the extra point, and the Patriots had a 7-0 lead. On Southern Choctaw’s following possession, Terris Lewis picked off an SCHS pass and returned it 45 yards for another LHS score with 3:10 left in the first quarter. Bruno’s kick made the score 14-0.

Southern Choctaw got on the scoreboard with a three-yard touchdown run with 11:30 left in the second quarter to trim the lead to 14-6.

On Linden’s second pay from scrimmage, Fritts went on a 52-yard run down the right sideline before being tackled out of bounds. He injured his knee, but LHS head coach Andro Williams was confident that he would recover soon.

On the next play, Julian Little took a four-yard run into the endzone for another Patriot score, giving Linden a 20-6 lead with 10:25 remaining. On Southern Choctaw’s ensuing drive, Linden’s Najee Bright stepped in front of a pass and returned it 20 yards to the LHS 41.Seven plays later, Goodwill ran nine yards for another score with 5:28 left. Bruno’s kick closed out the scoring at 27-6.

“Our kids really got after each other in both games,” Williams said. “I’m excited about seeing the films and the things that can help us for next season.

“Our guys made us proud defensively. When you turn the lights on, they are ready to play defense. The kids really take pride in that.”