The Pinecrest and Hoke County freshmen football teams came on and off the field three times because of lightning in the area before Thursday’s game got under way.

The Patriots then wasted little time in building up a big lead against the visiting Bucks on the way to a 42-6 victory.

Quarterbacks Bradley Black and Michael Jacobs each ran for two scores. On an afternoon of big plays by the Patriot defense and special teams, Caleb Hendrix recovered a high punt snap in the end zone for another Patriot touchdown.

Coach Ronshau Cole’s squad will take a 4-0 record into next Thursday’s 4 p.m. contest at home against Scotland County.

Troy Roper returned a punt 15 yards to the Hoke 44-yard line to set up the first offensive series for the Patriots. Jaylen Taylor picked up 27 yards on second down and then punched it in from the one three plays later. The first of four conversions by Joe Lewis made it 7-0.

The Bucks were stopped cold on three running plays the next time they had the ball. On fourth down, the snap flew far over the head of the punter and Hendrix won the race to the end zone to cover it for a touchdown. Roper scooped up a bad snap on the conversion attempt and ran for two points, making it 15-0.

The next two Patriot scores came on keepers by Bradley for touchdown runs of 36 and 24 yards, increasing the lead to 28-0 at halftime. The first drive was set up when the Pats’ Ryan Brooks tackled the Buck ball carrier for a six-yard loss on fourth down. A sack for a 10-yard loss by Myron Madrigal forced a punt the next time the visitors had the ball.

With Jacobs taking over at quarterback for Bradley in the second half, the Patriot offense didn’t skip a beat. Running backs Chance Castillo and Zion Ervin helped move the ball down the field for a five-yard touchdown run by Jacobs on the first series of the third period.

The defense got the ball back on a fumble recovery by Brooks at the Buck 14, leading to a 2-yard scoring run by Jacobs five plays later. The conversion by Lewis completed the Patriot scoring.

A 50-yard kickoff return by Ken Locklear in the fourth quarter led to the lone Buck touchdown by Kevontae Murchison on a 20-yard run.