JOHNSTON – It took a while for the potent Wardlaw Academy offense to get going, but once the Patriots found their rhythm in the second half there was no stopping them.

Ahead just 8-0 over a determined bunch of King Academy Knights at the break, Wardlaw moved 50 yards in four plays before Cody Smith broke free for a 27-yard score. Later in the third quarter, freshman running back Malik Lee scored on an 11-yard for a 22-0 advantage.

That lead was stretched again in the fourth quarter on another scoring run by Lee, this time of 13 yards. Lee also capped the scoring for the Patriots on a 44-yard scamper with 7:44 remaining on the game clock. Lee led the team with 148 yards rushing on 13 carries.

King Academy got their first points of the game with less than a minute to go, on an 11-yard run from Eric Mills.

Wardlaw plays host to James Island Christian this Friday in the opening round of the state playoffs. King Academy will host Coastal Christian on Friday.