The Patriots' game with region foe Colleton County was practically decided by the end of the first quarter.

The Fort scored four touchdowns in the opening quarter while holding Colleton to only a field goal en route to a 48-3 victory.

It was a huge win for the Fort, which improved its record to 5-2 with a 1-1 mark in the region. The Cougars, who were playing for the second consecutive week without star quarterback Zack Singleton, fell to 4-4, 1-1.

"We got after it pretty hard," Patriot Coach Steve LaPrad said. "We jumped on them early and then kept the pace up. Our defense got some early turnovers and that got us going."

Fort Dorchester's Dawud Shaheed returned the opening kickoff 35 yards to the Colleton 44-yard line. Then the Patriots drove 44 yards in seven plays for the game's first score. Quarterback Galen Bennett capped the drive with a touchdown run from one-yard out. Chris Kifer added his first of six extra-point kicks for a 7-0 Patriot lead.

On the Cougars' first play from scrimmage, defensive back Durrell Mitchell striped a runner of the ball and dashed 27 yards for another Patriot touchdown. Colleton managed a couple of first downs on its ensuing possession, but then had to punt. Michael Matthews blocked the kick and lineman Kevin McManus picked it up and returned it 12 yards for a score.

The Cougars drove 50 yards on their next possession, but had to settle for a 41-yard field goal by Brantley Wiggins, which turned out to be the only score of the evening for Colleton.

On the Fort's ensuing possession, it needed only two plays to score. Bennett rushed for 6 yards and then hit Shaheed with a 59-yard touchdown pass. The extra point took the score to 28-3 with a little more than 2:00 remaining in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Bennett connected with Greg Ellington for a 6-yard touchdown pass. In the third quarter, the Patriots added and a 1-yard scoring strike from Bennett to Chris Dozier and a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Dante Ravenel.

The Patriot defense held the Cougars to only 53 rushing yards in the game. Linebacker Geno Porter had 11 tackles, including three for a loss. Matthews and Kenneth Cook both finished with six tackles. Robert Quinn had three tackles including 1.5 for a loss of -5 yards.

Ravenel started the game as a running back/receiver, but also got some snaps in at quarterback so Bennett could get some much deserved rest. Ravenel led all rushers with 111 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Dwayne Scales had 46 on nine carries.

Bennett completed 4-of-6 pass attempts for 71 yards and three touchdowns. Shaheed had two receptions for 87 yards.

Cougar QB Kevin Adams was 5-for-14 passing for 84 yards with an interception and QB Justin Guinn was 3-for-3 for 30 yards. Taurean Stephens led the Cougar receivers with two catches for 54 yards.