By Samantha Jones

The Tuscaloosa News

TUSCALOOSA — The American Christian Academy Patriots set the pace early on Friday night as the opening drive ended with quarterback Austin Grammer throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Parker Barrineau.

ACA went on to defeat the Francis Marion Rams 63-6 in a Class 2A, Region 4 game.

“(Barrineau) is a great receiver. I knew he could score,” Grammer said, “We came out, set the tone early and played how we are expected to play.”

Grammer led the Patriots’ offense, completing 14 passes for 210 yards.

“(Grammer) is just a great football player. We ask him to run our offense, and he does that,” said ACA coach John Causey. “When you’ve got a guy like him, he makes my job as a coach look easy.”

Grammer threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Roberts with 14 seconds left in the first quarter. Francis Marion responded with a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by quarterback Radge Turner to cut the deficit to 14-6.

Grammer linked up with running back John Major Davis for a touchdown with 6:49 left before halftime.

Grammer ran 19 yards for a touchdown and threw a scoring passes to tight end Kyle Sappington and to Barrineau to build the lead to 42-6 at halftime.

It was the same story more or less for the third and fourth quarters, as the Rams’ defense was no match for the explosive Patriot offense.

Davis and Barrineau ran in two more touchdowns, and running back Austin Atkins scored the final touchdown for the Patriots (2-1, 2-0).

Roberts led ACA in receiving with 73 yards, followed by Barrineau with 49 and Tyler Hughes with 44.

“This is a huge boost for us,” Causey said.

“We’re going back Monday to focus on what it will take to win our next game.”

ACA will look for another region victory next Friday at Isabella.

Francis Marion (2-1, 1-1) will host Central-Hayneville next week.