Jemison’s comeback ran out of gas, and the Panthers’ playoff hopes took a shot to the gut with Friday’s 36-26 loss to Sumter-Central.

With only one week of region play remaining, the Panthers need a win at Greene County on Oct. 21 and some help in order to qualify for the postseason.

On Friday, the JHS offense couldn’t find its rhythm from earlier in the year, and the defense was pounded by 275-pound running back Terrance Hinson and an even bigger offensive line.

Sumter (6-2 overall, 4-2 region) scored first, on a 10-yard Hinson run to conclude the first possession of the game, and built a 22-7 halftime lead.

Jemison’s only lead came with 1:09 remaining in the first half, when Randy Satterfield’s leaping touchdown reception from quarterback Tre Bryant was followed by a Cruz Martinez extra point.

The visitors responded with a 17-yard scoring strike from quarterback Roderick Harris on a 4th-and-15 play, and with a 5-yard Harris scramble for a touchdown.

Hinson’s 2-point run made the deficit 15 points at halftime.

But Jemison’s Javae Swindle scored on the first play from scrimmage of the second half, a 71-yard run.

Swindle wasn’t as efficient on the next possession, as he needed two runs—of 29 yards and then 32 yards—to reach the end zone.

Martinez added the point after to bring the score to 22-20, but that was as close as the Panthers (5-3, 3-3) would get. A lost fumble on Jemison’s next possession killed the momentum, and Hinson’s powerful runs combined with Harris’ elusiveness wore down the JHS defense as Sumter added two scores to pull away in the fourth quarter.