CLARKSDALE — Just when it looked like Pillow Academy had a chance to end its losing streak, the bottom fell out on the Mustangs in the second half of the fourth quarter.
Lee Academy scored 15 points in the final seven minutes for a 28-6 victory here Friday night in a game that was closer than the final score indicated — handing the struggling Mustangs their fifth consecutive loss.
“We’re certainly disappointed with the outcome, but at the same time, we see some good things happening. We’ve just got to keep working to get better,” PA coach Michael Fair said. “Almost the whole game we were just one play away from being tied or taking the lead, but we were hurt by some holding penalties that wiped out long runs or a dropped ball here or there.”
Pillow falls to 1-7 overall, 0-5 in the North AAA Division I standings, while Lee moves to 4-5, 1-4.
Since winning a state AAA Division II title in 2010, the Mustangs have won just three games and need to win their final two games this season to build momentum toward rebuilding in the offseason.
Fair’s message for his team following the game was this: “Your level of character is going to be tested the next two weeks. Most people in your situation would just throw in the towel, but I don’t think we will.”
Lee led Pillow 13-6 in the fourth quarter when the Colts got the ball at the PA 23-yard line after a punt by Kevin Phillips hit the back of teammate Bay Bennett, the up-back protecting the punter.
After converting on a fourth-and-3 play, Yeager Bass scored for Lee on a 9-yard touchdown run. Bass added the two-point run to make it 21-6 with 7:10 to play.
The Colts put the game away with 3:21 to play on a 21-yard touchdown pass.
Lee scored on its second possession of the game for a 7-0 lead on a 9-yard run by sophomore quarterback Michael Agostinelli.
Pillow responded with a 78-yard touchdown drive, capped on a 5-yard pass from ninth-grader Thomas Dillard to senior running back Watson Turnipseed. The PAT kick failed, leaving Lee up 7-6 with 9:25 left in the second quarter.
Dillard, who shared snaps at quarterback with junior Maury Sykes in place of the injured Lou Adams (out for season with broke collarbone), completed 8 of 20 passes for 72 yards and had 38 rushing yards on five carries.
Sykes led the PA ground attack with 62 yards on six attempts. He also had two catches for 23 yards.
Lee took a 13-6 lead 17 seconds before halftime on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Agostinelli to Cam Monix.
The Mustang defense forced three fumbles. Bennett and Justin Perkins, both sophomores, had fumble recoveries, and Sykes added an interception to thwart a Lee drive.
• Contact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow on Twitter:@Bill_Burrus.
