3A foe Kemper County Wildcats tame Panthers in Friday night contest with a solid passing attack. Although the Panthers seem to be solid against the run they had no answer for the pass.
Captains for tonight’s contest is #6 Shamorie Harris #9 Kingston Jordan #10 Demarcus Smith #20 TK Cameron. The Panthers won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
After the kickoff by #2 Jaycolby Williams the ball was downed on the 18 yd line. The Wildcats begin to work with a long pass that gained near ¾ quarters of the field bringing up 1st and 10 from about the 16 yd line, after two plays resulted in a touchdown Kemper Co with 10:39 left in the 1st Quarter. The Cats go for 2 but were unsuccessful the score is now 6 to 0 Wildcats.
Kemper kicks to #3 Dontavious Hall who had a long run back to the Wildcat 40 yd line putting the Panthers in good field position. After 4 down and 3 yards to gain Kemper jumps off side and give the Panthers a 1st down on 2nd down #4 Saveonne Evans breaks free for a long gain bringing the ball 1st and goal.
On 2nd and goal Panthers find the end zone with a 1 yd run from #4 Evans, the extra point from #16 Brijuan Dace was no good bringing the score with 3:34 left in the 1st Quarter to 6 Quitman 6 Kemper County. On Kemper’s next possession on 1st and 10 Kemper fumbles and the Panthers #8 Jerry Gaines recovered. After 2 plays #11 Jed Lewis connects with #14 Javantae Charles on a pass for a touchdown Quitman Panthers 2 point conversion was good with 3:15 left in the 1st quarter Panthers lead 14 to 6.
After the kickoff Kemper Co takes over on the 40 yd line, on 2nd down their Quarterback drops back on a long pass for a touchdown, while the Wildcats go for two it was no good with 1:57 left in the 1st Quarter Quitman 14 Kemper 12.
On the next series of downs The Panthers went 3 and out, after the punt by #2 Williams Kemper takes over near midfield. On 2nd down the Quarterback drops back for a long pass for a touchdown on a uncovered receiver #10 for Kemper Co., which is the story of the night. No one for the Panthers could seem to cover #10 DJ Clayton. He seemed to be open all night long.
The touchdown and successful 2 point conversion made the score Wildcats 20 Panthers 14 with 11 seconds left in the 1st Quarter. Panthers take over the ball on a very good sweep from #14 Charles, the clock runs out with the same score 20 to 14 Wildcats.
After a 3 and out series the Wildcats take over and the Panthers defense, holds them to a 3rd and 14 when the quarterback #7 Eric Clark Jr. drops back for a long pass to # 10 DJ Clayton for another touchdown. The 2 point conversion was no good. The score is now 26 to 14 Wildcats with time running out in the 1st half.
I was able to catch up with Kemper County’s Head Coach Chris Jones at the half. I asked him how did he feel about the first half. He said “We came out flat we need to get going and show more effort,” and effort they did in the 2nd half.
Quitman started with the ball in the 2nd half with a good run by #26 Tydrekius Carpenter for 9 yards after gaining a first down the Panthers go 3 and out. The Panthers go for it on 4th down but did not make the line to gain, so the Wildcats take over on downs. After a long pass play Kemper finds themselves 1st and ten from the Panthers 17 yard line, then the Panthers pick up a costly personal foul leaving the Wildcats 1st and goal from the 3 yard line.
After 3 attempts the Wildcats now find themselves faced with a 4th and goal from the 8 yard line, on 4th down another pass would result in a touchdown and the 2 point conversion was good with the score 34 to14. The Wildcats would never look back. They kept the momentum for the rest of the night.
On the Panther’s next possession the Panthers pick up a first down and on the next series of downs. Quitman’s quarterback #11 Lewis is picked off by Kemper Co and they run it back for a touchdown and the conversion was no good with 1:14 left in the 3rd Quarter Wildcats 40 Panthers 14.
After a 3 and out series for the Panthers Kemper takes over with a change of quarterbacks #2 Jameez Sims. After 3 plays #10 DJ Clayton scores again with no safety in sight for the Panthers. It seemed to be the Achilles Heel for the Panthers with 10:56 left in the 4th quarter Kemper 48 Quitman 14.
Both teams had a possession, on Quitman’s final possession on first and goal. After a few runs by Quitman’s new Quarterback #12 Keshan Johnson, Quitman scores on a fumble recovered by the Panthers in the end zone with a final score Quitman 20 Kemper Co 48.
Quitman’s Coach Bynum said, “Although there was improvements, especially our lineman up front, we still have to continue to fix ourselves.”
The Panthers play at home this Friday night at 7:00 pm against West Jones. Come out and support the Panthers.
Notable players for the Panthers on offense are #26 Tydrekius Carpenter 61yds; #4 Saveonne Evans 40yds ; #12 Keshan Johnson 23yds ; #11 Jed Lewis 58yds, 1 TD, 2 INT; #14 Javantae Charles 32yds, 1 TD; #3 Dontavius Hall 2 receptions, 19yds. The Panthers had 220 yards of offense.
Defense notables are #55 Zeke Campbell 2 Tackles, 1 for loss, 1 Forced Fumble; #18 Dervon Altman 2 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Hurry; #5 Taderius Chapman 3 Tackles, 1 Sack; #6 Shamorie Harris 4 Tackles; #3 Jerry Gaines 3 Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 2 Asst., 1 Hurry; #15 Jalen Watts 4 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble; #16 Brijuan Dace 5 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Tackle for loss, 2 Hurries.
