HOMEWOOD, Alabama -- The Homewood Patriots used three first half touchdowns to go on and defeat Hueytown 18-7 Thursday night in the Hoar Program Management Kickoff Classic at Samford University’s Seibert Stadium. Hueytown scored early in the fourth quarter and was driving late in the game but couldn't get the late score for a chance to cut the Homewood lead.

Homewood had a quick start where on the first play of the game quarterback Larkin Williams threw a short pass to Trae Ausmer and took it, slipped a defender a raced 64-yards to setup the Patriots first touchdown of the season. A few plays later, KeOnte Davis ran in from 9-yards out to give Homewood a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter.

With 9:34 left in the half, Wesley Williams scored on a reverse run play from 4-yard out to give Homewood a 12-0 lead. John Firnberg recoverd a Hueytown fumble deep inside Gophers territory to setup the second Patriots touchdown.

Homewoods last touchdown came with 7:17 left in the half on a Larkin Williams to Ausmer 82-yard touchdown pass and the Patriots took an 18-0 lead into halftime. "We had some big plays tonight," said Patriots head coach Ben Berguson. "The thing that I was disappointed with tonight is that we couldn't sustain any drives and couldn't run the football so we have to fix that. 

Homewood quarterback Larkin Williams completed 20-of-34 passing for 288 yards and a touchdown. "Three-year starter for us," added Burguson. "Great leadership and threw the ball well. He is the general of the team." Ausmer had six catches for 152 yards and a score. Marcus McGee had eight receptions for 111 yards on the night.

Homewood came right ready to play in the first half with their quick start and their three touchdowns in the first half. "I thought our fast start was big for us," said Patriots QB Williams. "We came out hot, we saw a little bit of tiredness in the second half and we have to do a better job of getting in shape, but I has real proud of our team to get that first win of the season."

Hueytown was the more aggressore and had most of the momentum in the second half as they scored their only touchdown with 10:14 left in the game on a Reid LaFoy to Roydell Williams on a 28-yard touchdown catch. Williams kept both feet inbounds in the back corner of the end zone for the Golden Gophers only score of the game. "We didn't start very good in first half," said Golden Gophers head coach Scott Mansell. "That is my fault on not getting them ready. We have to do other things other than just getting the ball to Roydell. We need the others to take the nine men in the box that we see, but we will get better and make the adjustments."

Homewood limited Williams to 53 yards on 16 carries, but he had seven receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown reception.

“We needed to gain some confidence in this game because there’s so many unknowns going into that first game,” added Berguson. “We got the big one next week against Vestavia, so we had a to get a win tonight.”