Thomas Johnson shows major improvement in 26-8 season-opening win over Catoctin
The Patriots scored 26 unanswered points and turned a key late-third-quarter interception into a decisive season-opening victory.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
Thomas Johnson won 26-8. TJ scored 26 unanswered points. Kaiden Scott had a near full-field interception return. Nakhi Bagwell scored twice. The win came in Vince Ahearn’s second season as head coach.
Thomas Johnson opened its football season with a convincing 26-8 win over Catoctin, showing early signs of progress in coach Vince Ahearn’s second year.
The Patriots fell behind after Catoctin scored on its opening drive, but TJ responded with 26 unanswered points to take control of the game.
One of the biggest plays came late in the third quarter when sophomore defensive back Kaiden Scott intercepted a deflected pass near the end zone and returned it nearly the length of the field.
Two plays later, senior running back Nakhi Bagwell scored his second touchdown of the game, giving the Patriots valuable insurance.
Ahearn said there was a noticeable difference in his team’s understanding of the game and overall execution compared with the same point last season.
WHAT IT MEANS
The Patriots are still early in their rebuild, but this opener showed a team that looks more confident and better prepared than a year ago. Turning a defensive takeaway into points was exactly the kind of sequence TJ struggled with previously.
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