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Jefferson County head coach Spencer Riley borrowed his pre-game mantra Friday night from pop legend Olivia Newton John.

“Physical boys, be physical tonight,” Riley repeated over and again as he went up and down the sideline just moments before kickoff.

The Patriots heard the message, handing Science Hill its first region loss in three years, 25-21.

“I thought our physicality was pretty good tonight, still can be better though,” Riley said with a smile. “If we aren’t rushing for 400 a night, I’m always going to find an issue, but we were much more physical tonight.”

While they didn’t rush for 400 as they did a week ago, the Patriots outgained the Hilltoppers 227-62 on the ground.

Omarion Mills led the way with 158 yards and two scores, with Skylar Thomas pitching in 39 yards to go with a touchdown and Shawn Jackson rushing for 42 of his own.

The passing game stepped up this week as well. While only converting for a modest 99 yards in total, Mason Henderson was poised and made plays when the Patriots needed him to.

His favorite target was Bryson Letterman on the other end. Letterman hauled in four passes for 90 yards and a score, including a 34-yard connection on fourth and 22 on the opening drive for Jefferson County.

However, it was the defense that was the story for the Patriots. They held Science Hill to 165 total yards, and delivered when it mattered most, including a fourth and 6, with their backs on their own 29.

“We knew they had to throw the football,” Riley said. “They threw the ball to the end zone on third down, had us beat, and the guy dropped it. At the end of the day, you’ve got to make plays, and on fourth down there we were fortunate enough to make the play tonight.”

Israel Hurd stepped up to make the play, sacking Science Hill’s Jaysahn Swartz for a fourteen yard loss to ice the game, leaving nothing but the victory formation remaining.

“This is what championship football teams have got to do,” Riley said. “You’ve got to win close football games. They aren’t always going to be blowouts, they aren’t always going to be pretty, but you’ve got to be better than the team you’re lined up against and we were tonight.”

Science Hill started its first drive off on the 50 due to a failed onside kick. They drove the ball down to the Jefferson County 26, chunking together a couple of gains on the ground, but a big tackle from Letterman on third down faced the Hilltoppers with fourth and eight.

They managed a completion, but only for two yards, and just like that, the Patriots were driving.

Shawn Jackson got the handoff on the first play of the drive. The play looked to be stuffed at the line, but Jackson reversed field, found a gap and took the ball 44 yards, down to the Science Hill 34.

A rush from Omarion Mills for no gain, followed by a pair of sacks, and the Patriots were faced with fourth and 22.

Riley trusted his quarterback, and it paid dividends. Mason Henderson connected with Letterman for a 34-yard score, giving the Patriots the 6-0 advantage following a failed extra-point with 6:18 remaining in the first.

“We said, ‘hey look, we’re not in field goal range, so we’re going to take a shot,’ and they just happened to give us man coverage. All of a sudden he (Letterman) ran right by him, I couldn’t believe he ran by him, they’re a lot more athletic than we are.”

Science Hill managed to drive the ball down to the Jeff County 20-yard line, but a timely sack from Thomas forced a punt.

A three-and-out on the following Patriot drive gave the Hilltoppers the ball back, and again they managed their way to plus-territory.

Two big tackles from Bradon Griffin and an incompletion, and Science Hill was forced to punt once more. Only this time, the snap sailed over the punter’s head, and Thomas again managed to make the play, setting the Patriots up with first down from the Science Hill 17.

Penalties stifled this Jeff County drive, pushing them all the way back to the 40, and they were forced to punt. Three penalties on this drive, and nine total for 89 yards on the day.

The teams took turns punting the ball for the remainder of the half, leaving the score at 6-0 after two.

The Patriots got the ball to start the second half, but their possession was short-lived, as a fumble on the kickoff gave the ball back to Science Hill at the nine-yard line.

The Hilltoppers needed just two plays to take the 7-6 lead with 10:55 to play in the third.

The Patriots responded, however, as they did all game long. Mills took the opening handoff for 49-yards, before ultimately punching one in to put Jefferson County back up, 12-7, with 8:54 remaining in the third quarter.

Science Hill appeared to return the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but a holding penalty brought it back to the 45.

They took ten plays to gain those 45 yards, taking the lead 14-12 with 3:36 left in quarter number three.

Another three-and-out for Jefferson County gave the ball back to Science Hill, but an interception from Shawn Jackson gave the Patriots the ball back on their own 45-yard line entering the fourth.

To start the quarter, Henderson and Letterman again connected, this time for 40, to set Skylar Thomas up for the three-yard score. Patriots on top, 18-14, 11:14 remaining.

Science Hill returned the following kickoff down to the Patriot 17, this time no flags. The Hilltoppers capitalized, taking the 21-18 lead with 8:16 to go.

“Honestly, we tried to give the ball game away,” Riley said. “We’ve got to get our special teams fixed, and that’s on me and our staff, we’ve got to do a better job of that.”

Facing third and short on their following drive, Henderson and Letterman connected for another first.

Mills took the next carry 40-yards to the house, but he wasn’t alone. Letterman was by his side, blocking his defender all the way to the goal line, and the Patriots were up 25-21 with 7:03 to play.

“Bryson is one of our best receivers, and one of our more physical receivers,” Riley said. “He’s a senior, and a physical cat that understands what he has to do, and we count on him both offensively and defensively.”

And we know what happened next. The Patriots held on, improving to 2-0 in Region play, first in the Region.

“It’s where we want to be sitting, man. We control our own destiny. It’s the first time in a long time that we’ve been able to say that and not have to count on people to help us. It’s nice to be able to go into next week that you win, and it’s in your control.”

While in control of their standing in the region, they face perhaps the biggest remaining obstacle on their schedule next week in Dobyns-Bennett.

Kickoff for that contest will be at 7:00 p.m., Friday, September 8, on their home turf.