LINDEN – The Linden Patriots (8-1, 6-1 Region) celebrated a happy homecoming with a 66-0 romp over the visiting Marengo Panthers Friday night.

Linden used a healthy mix of a stiff defensive presence with a ground and aerial attack that absolutely shredded everything the Panthers (4-5, 4-3 Region) threw at them.

“I thought we played balanced,” Patriots head coach Andro Williams said.

The Patriots wasted no time in taking their opening possession 68 yards for a score, needing only four plays and in just more than a minute and a half to hit the end zone on a four-yard touchdown run by Kendarius Fritts.

It was all downhill from there for the Panthers.

After a Marengo punt the Patriots needed only two plays to march 69 yards for their second score. This time Fritts thundered for 37 yards and gave the Patriots the 13-0 lead.

Following another Panther punt Anthony Robinson hooked up with Terris Lewis on a 44-yard touchdown strike, giving Linden the 19-0 lead with more than two minutes left in the first quarter.

Linden took its next possession right back to pay dirt on a quarterback sneak from Robinson. The one-yard plunge was set up by a 41-yard bomb from Robinson to Gerald Bruno to open the second quarter.

With 2:15 left in the half Julian Little, who led the Patriots in rushing for 125 yards on the night, scored from three yards out to give the Patriots a 35-0 lead. Fritts would add his third score of the night with only 32 seconds left in the half, giving Linden the 42-0 halftime lead.

The second quarter was more of the same, with the Patriots special teams electing to get involved in the scoring.

Terry Hinton carried a punt blocked by Marquise Shelton 20 yards for a touchdown, putting Linden ahead 49-0.

Samuel Monroe opened the fourth quarter with a 10-yard touchdown and as the fourth quarter wound down, the Linden defense would force a Panther safety,

The final score of the night came off a 9-yard touch down run by Shelton.

Fritts finished made his final regular season home appearance count, rolling for three scores and 106 yards on eight carries. Robinson threw for 154 yards, going 5-for-7 through the air.

Bruno’s 54 yards on two catches led a receiving corps that included Lewis (44 yards on one catch) and Najee Bright (50 yards on one catch).

Linden wraps up regular season play next Friday night at Brantley while Marengo travels to Keith.