This was it: the final game in the season before playoffs, and the Quitman Panthers had just one game to make it to their first round of playoffs; however, the Panthers were not the only ones in this predicament. The Richland Rangers also had only one game left to win to qualify for playoffs. With the stakes this high, only one team would walk away with the victory and the chance to enter into the playoffs.
It all started in the first quarter with the Rangers punting the ball into the Panthers’ 47 yard line. Akylin Dear spared no time as he took control of the ball and ran it to the Rangers’ 27 yard line. Akylin was on the carry again for the Panthers and scored the first touchdown and Jias Davis kicked a successful PAT. The score was Panthers 7 - Rangers 0. Davis kicked the ball to the Rangers’ 42 yard line. After a couple of plays with the Rangers in control of the ball, the Panthers gained control after a fumble by the Rangers was recovered by the Panthers. Braylon Peters pushed the ball down field to the Rangers 20. Akylin pushed the ball into the endzone again, but the PAT was no good. The score was Panthers 13 - Rangers 0.
In the second quarter, the Panthers punted to the Ranger 35. The Rangers pushed back to the Panthers’ 40 yard line where the Panthers gained control of the ball through pass interception. The Panthers pushed the ball to the Rangers’ 20 yardline where Quitman scores with a sucessful PAT kicked by Jaliel Cameron. The score was Panthers 20 - Rangers 0.
The Panthers kicked the ball to the 20. The Rangers advanced to the Rangers’ 37 yard line where the Panthers gained control of the ball. Dear carried the ball to the endzone and Davis kicked a successful PAT. The score was Panthers 27 - Rangers 0. The Panthers then kicked to the Rangers' 30 yard line. The Panthers’ defensive line pushed the Rangers back to the 5 yard line where the ball was fumbled, and just as it was about to hit the ground, #30 Senior Offensive and Defensive Lineman Jawaun Keyes caught the ball and slid into the endzone on his back. The touchdown was followed by a successful two point conversion and the score was Panthers 35 - Rangers 0.
In the final two quarters of the game, the Panthers punted the ball to the Rangers 26. The Rangers attempted to pass the ball, but it was intercepted at the 30 yard line by #4 Sophomore Defensive Back and Wide Receiver Jaeden Jones. Akylin pushed the ball to the Ranger 10 yard line. Quitman passes the ball to #10 Junior Wide Receiver Tommy Chambers at the endzone for a touchdown catch. With a successful PAT from Davis, the score was Panthers 42 - Rangers 0.
The final touchdown of the game was scored by the Rangers in the 4th quarter without a successful PAT. The final score of the game was Panthers 42 - Rangers 6.
With the victory being awarded to the Panthers, one team moves on to the playoffs while the other hangs their helmets and shoulder pads in the hopes that next year will be better. The Panthers will enter the first round of Playoffs at McComb this Friday at 7 p.m. Congratulations Panthers!
Come out to support our boys!
