Panthers win at DCHS, improve to 3-1 in area
Published 7:59 pm Tuesday, October 6, 2009
By Mike Kelley
PLANTERSVILLE – Jemison’s Panthers (3-3) swatted the Dallas County Hornets on Oct. 2 (2-4), 21-6, in a come-from-behind win in Dallas County.
The win gives coach Brad Abbott’s team a 3-1 record against Region 3 opponents in the 4A classification.
The Hornets jumped in front with a 65-yard touchdown pass from Justin McAlfee to Deandre McIntyre on the third play of the game. The point-after attempt was blocked by the Panthers.
In the first quarter, a bad punt gave the Panthers good field position, and they drove to the Hornet 1, where they were stopped.
Jesse Taylor set up the first Panther touchdown with an interception of a Dallas County pass in the second quarter. Javae Swindle ran to the Hornet 2, and Isa Bentley scored with 7:45 left to play in the half. Patrick Sims kicked the Panthers into the lead with his successful point-after kick.
M.J. McKenzie intercepted a second Hornet pass of the half, and the Panthers took advantage of their good fortune. Swindle scored from the eight with three minutes left in the half. The point-after attempt sailed wide left, but the Panthers led at the intermission, 13-6.
Jemison took the second-half kick and wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Scott Clements passed to Swindle, who ran 80 yards for the game’s final touchdown. The Panthers added a 2-point conversion to win, 21-6. Jemison booked 15 first downs, and the Hornets earned eight. Including two penalties for kickoffs that rolled out of bounds, the Panthers were penalized six times for 75 yards.
Both teams threatened to score later in the second half but failed to reach the end zone. At the end of the game, Jemison was on Dallas County’s 10-yard line.
Unofficially, the Panthers rushed for 185 yards and completed 14 passes for 226 yards. The Panthers held the Hornets to 113 yards rushing and 78 passing yards.
This week, the Panthers will host the Greensborro Public High School Raiders.
