The defense of the Pinecrest freshmen football team allowed only two first downs during Thursday's home game against Hoke County.

Unfortunately, the second one occurred during an 83-yard touchdown run by the Bucks' Treqwon Covington with three and a half minutes left in the game. Those points turned out to be the difference in the 6-5 Patriot loss.

Both offenses were dominated by the defenses throughout the contest played on the Pinecrest practice field. The Patriots opened the scoring early in the second quarter. A 31-yard field goal by Matt Epley was set up by a Josh McMillan fumble recovery. The home team's longest advance of the half came on a 30-yard pass from Epley to Justin Ray.

The Patriots started from their own 35 after the second half kickoff. Dwayne Simpson picked up 36 yards on the first play, but the next three lost a total of 25 yards. A 50-yard punt into the end zone by Frankie Painter set the Bucks up at their own 20. On fourth and four, the visitors gambled and made their only other first down of the game.

A set of downs later, a short wind-blown punt produced negative yardage, giving the Pats another golden opportunity at the Hoke 26. They were set back again before Epley completed a pass covering 30 yards to Ryan Smith for a first down at the seven.

The Buck defense was equal to the task again, sending the home team backwards for a missed 33-yard field goal attempt.

That gave the Bucks the ball at their own 20 with four minutes left in the game. On first down, defensive end James Harrison tackled the ball carrier for a three-yard loss. But, on the next play, Covington narrowly avoided a blitz from the left side and then raced 83 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown, giving his team a 6-3 lead.

After the extra-point attempt failed and the Bucks were penalized 15 yards, the Patriots recovered an onside kick at the visitors' 40. A fumble gave the ball back to the Bucks at the 15. Backed up to the one a few plays later, the Hoke quarterback took a sack in the end zone for a safety. An interception ended the Patriots' final chance to grab the win.

Next Thursday the Pinecrest freshmen (1-1) travel to South View for a 6 p.m. kickoff.