By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

Maplesville’s football team traveled up Highway 191 to take on the Jemison Panthers last night and renewed an in-county rivalry that dates back to 1947–but one that hadn’t been played since 2001.

After a 48-35 win on Thursday, the Red Devils lead in the series 18-9, according to the best available records.

Both teams came into the game having already locked up playoff births. Maplesville locked up their region championship last week at home against Keith, while the Panthers sit in fourth place in their region but are riding a four-game losing streak.

The Devils (8-1 overall and 7-0 in region play) won the toss and went right to work on the first play of the game with Damian Mitchell going 57 yards down to the Jemison 2-yard line.

Colby Chambers would go in from 3 yards out, and with Brandon Morrow’s extra point, the Devils took the early lead 7-0.

The Maplesville defense was not to be outdone by their offense, with Cameron Andrews intercepting Jemison quarterback Jacob Hatch at the Jemsion 29-yard line and setting up the Devils’ second score of the night when Chambers found Morrow in the end zone from 3 yards out to make it 14-0.

The Panthers answered on their next drive with Kevin King rushing 46 yards for a touchdown and drawing the Panthers within one score at 14-7.

The Panther defense forced the Devil offense to a three-and-out on their next possession and set up a 64-yard touchdown strike from Tremon Bryant to Randy Satterfield to tie the score.

The Devils retook the lead early in the second quarter when Chambers hit Morrow for 33 yards and a touchdown.

With Maplesville facing a fourth-and-long from their own 34 late in the second quarter, Satterfield fielded the Maplesville punt at his own 20-yard line and took it up the middle for an 80-yard touchdown, again tying the score, this time with 1:11 left to go in the half.

But the Maplesville offense wasn’t done yet and would add another touchdown. MHS led 28-21 at halftime.

King scored on a 3-yard touchdown run and tied the game at 28-all.