$1340 BeatDown: Comes with food, parking and game

American Scofflaw

It was late last Saturday night after the seemingly invincible Pats defeated Jacksonville to advance to this weekend’s AFC title game.

“I was wearing my Tedy Bruschi jersey and my friend Jeff had a Tom Brady shirt on,” Brian Wormstead said. “But my cousins, who flew up for the game from Jacksonville, were wearing Jaguars gear.

“Suddenly, two guys behind us start mouthing off, just being obnoxious. So I turned around and said, ‘C’mon, we just won the game. These are my cousins from Florida. Let’s just have a nice night, OK?’ ”

Then he turned back.

Tanya Watson, 35, Brian’s cousin, decribes what happened next.

“They hit him from behind,” she said. “And when Jeff stepped in, they knocked him to the ground. My husband Chris was walking ahead of us; when he saw what was happening he came running.

“So Chris gets one of these guys in a headlock, trying to pull him away, and while they’re on the ground, someone else kicks him in the head. That’s how he got the black eye and swollen cheek. My husband never got hit by the ones who started it; he got hit by the ones passing by.”

Wormstead, 40, can’t describe his attackers.

“It was pretty dark out where they’re putting up all those new buildings,” he said. “So I didn’t get a good look. Besides, at 5-foot-8, everybody looks big to me. I just know I’ve got a punctured eardrum and lumps all over me; Chris has cuts all over his face; and Jeff

“But this was worse than going to New York for a Yankees-Sox game, and I’ve done that plenty of times. I go to sporting events all the time and don’t mind spending the money because I love our teams. I spent $1,200 for four tickets last Saturday, plus $40 to park and $100 for food. And Chris and Tanya paid to fly here, only to watch their team take a beating and then take a beating of their own.”

Wormstead recalled visiting the Watsons a year ago in Jacksonville where they have season tickets.

“I wore my Patriots gear and had no problem,” he said. “In fact, after we won I even had my picture taken sitting on the statue of the Jaguar outside their stadium. No one gave me a hard time.”

“I think I’m mentally strong,” Wormstead said. “But this upset me terribly, taking the fun out of everything. I was planning to go this Sunday. I can get the tickets; that’s no problem. But I’m not sure I want to, even though I’ve loved the Patriots all my life.

“I’m thinking I’ll just stay home and watch them on TV.”

For once, this guy uses his noggin.