No. 11 Petal escapes 20-19

LYMAN, Miss. - The trap was set for the Petal (Miss.) Panthers before they even got off the buses at Harrison Central (Lyman, Miss.) for a key region match-up. The Panthers were flying high coming off of last weeks 14-6 win over Ocean Springs. Petal trailed 19-7 with less than five minutes to play in the final quarter before pulling off a stunning come back that left the Red Rebels scratching their heads for a second week in a row.

The first half of the game played out in a ball control slugfest with Petal drawing first blood. Isaiah Newsome rushed the ball nine times for 40 yards in the opening drive capping it with a 1 yard touchdown plunge (PAT was good). The Red Rebels almost averted the early score by forcing a forth and six on the Panther side of the field. Petal punted to the Rebels but a muffed punt gave the ball back to Petal in HCHS territory.

In the second quarter it was all HCHS, the Red Rebels controlled the line of scrimmage and limited Petal's offensive chances before the half. HCHS got on the board with a six yard run by tailback Donelle Dunnigan. The PAT was good.

The two teams ended the half at 7-7.

It didn't take long for the fireworks to begin in the second half. Petal opened play by kicking to HCHS, the kickoff sailed into the endzone for a touch-back, setting the Red Rebels up at their own 20. The massive HCHS line gashed Petal's interior and sprung Furious Bradley for an 80-yard touchdown scamper on the first play from scrimmage (PAT failed).

The score would remain 13-7 in favor of the Red Rebels until just under 10-minutes to go in the game when Dunnigan would add his second touchdown of the night on a six yard run. HCHS's two point try was stuffed by the Panthers.

Trailing 19-7, to the home standing Red Rebels the Panthers would begin to mount their comeback. Taking advantage of a solid kick-off return, the Panters would drive to the HCHS six yard line, where Newsome would scamper around the right end for the score. Zach Butler's PAT was good moving Petal within a score of HCHS at 19-14.

"After we scored the second touchdown I asked the defense if they could make a stop or should we go for the onside kick," Petal coach Steve Buckley said. "They told me to kick it deep and they'd hold them."

And that's just what they did. On the first play of scrimmage at the HCHS 20-yard line, a pitch from Aerion Williams to Dunnigan hit the turf. Petal swarmed the ball and came up with the fumble recovery.

Newsome sealed the win with a three yard touchdown run with about two minutes left to play securing the 20-19 win for the Panthers. Harrison Central intercepted a pass for the two point try.

"Anytime you can win a division game on the road, it's big," Buckley said. "Some wins are pretty, some wins are ugly. This was an ugly win, but it's a win and that's what matters."

Newsome finished the night with 163 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns. The Red Rebels were led by underclassman Furious Bradley who rushed 5 times for 112 yards and a touchdown.

The Red Rebels fall to 3-4, 1-2 in Region 4-5A, while Petal moves to 6-1, 3-0 in Region 4-5A.

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