EXCLUSIVE ETC TV 3 HIGHLIGHTS Panthers Pounced on by Bobcats: Gilmer Gets Hard Earned Homecoming Win

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Gilmer High School Bobcats football team hosted the Ridgeland Panthers on homecoming night. Gilmer gutted out a 24-17 victory over the pesky Panthers, who remained on the prowl throughout the night, despite never leading the game.Gilmer received the opening kick off, thus beginning the Bobcat’s opening possession. Gilmer head coach, Wesley Tankersley, opened with a strong running game. The Bobcats pounded the Panthers on the ground with a mix of halfbacks, Drew Morgan and Colt Henderson, and fullback, Tyler Bertolini. Gilmer controlled the clock with a meticulous clock eating drive, which resulted in a two yard rushing touchdown by Henderson. After the extra point by Manny Lopez, the Bobcats lead 7-0. The drive took six minutes and 19 seconds off the clock.

On the ensuing kick off, the Bobcats tried an onside kick which the Panthers returned to the Ridgeland 43 yard line. The Panthers picked up the pace, and moved the ball; however a critical fourth down stop gave Gilmer the ball back. The Bobcats began another long run fueled drive.

Clay McClure (#77) and Caleb Teague (68) Provide Pressure on Panthers
(Photo by Brian Pritchard)

< The second quarter began with the Bobcats on the Panther 33 yard line. Gilmer eventually found itself in a fourth and seven situation. Lopez came out to attempt a 42 yard field goal. The kick was faked and Connor Webber secured the first down with a 17 yard run. A Panthers personal foul facemask call moved the ball to the eight yard line, giving Gilmer first and goal. The Bobcats looked like they were ready for their second touchdown of the night but an offsides penalty move them back to the 13 yard line. The Panthers defense held the Bobcats to three, when Lopez kicked a 26 yard field goal to put Gilmer up 10-0 with 8:29 left in the first half. On the next Panther possession, Ridgeland moved the ball with a combination of a solid ground game and quick release passing game,which kept the Bobcat defense on its toes. The Panthers offense found itself in a fourth and long situation on the Gilmer 26 yard line. The Panthers went with a QB keeper, he was met by Jason Dover and Cameron Kephart short of the first down, giving Gilmer the ball with 4:09 left in the half. Gilmer took that lead into half time. After the Bobcat second half opening kickoff, the Panthers began on the Ridgeland 28. The Panthers started the second half fast. Ridgeland spread the Bobcats horizontally. With a plethora of Panther pitches, Ridgeland ran the Bobcats ragged; however, the Panthers shot itself in the paw with penalties, eventually settled for a missed 43 yard field goal after a personal foul penalty. Gilmer took over on downs, with 7:45 to go in the third quarter. The Panthers’ defense forced Gilmer to punt on the next possession, giving Ridgeland the ball on the Gilmer 40.

Johnie Flakes with the Carry
(Photo by Brian Pritchard)

The Panthers pounced again, successfully moving the ball on the Bobcats’ defense; however, another Panthers personal foul put Ridgeland in third and long. A Ridgeland run came within a cat hairs’ breath of a first down. The Panthers let the ball slip through its paws, and the Bobcats recovered a fumbled snap on the Gilmer 32 yard line

On the first play of the drive, Gilmer’s gadgetry was on full display when Colt Henderson connected with Connor Webber on a deep halfback pass. Later in the drive, the Bobcats faced a fourth and one. Tankersley, toughed it out, and called on Henderson, who secured the first down as the quarter ended with the home team protecting a 10-0 lead.

Gilmer increased its lead to 17-0 on the first play of the fourth, when Drew Morgan outraced the Ridgeland defense, on a 25 yard touchdown run, followed by a successful Lopez point after attempt

The Panthers pulled to within two touchdowns, on the next drive. Ridgeland moved the ball to the Gilmer 11, but was held to three.

The Panthers pounced on the ensuing onside kick, and quickly scored making the score 17-10.

A second onside was unsuccessful and the Bobcats took over with 7:22 left in the game. Gilmer went into clock control mode. On fourth and five, Gilmer tried to draw the Panthers off sides and got a delay of game penalty. A Marlin Hensley punt pinned the Panthers on the Ridgeland two yard line with 3:01 to play. The Ridgeland offense began moving the ball aggressively; however, with two minutes to play a Panthers fumble was recovered by Webber and returned for a touchdown. The Bobcats led 24-10 after Lopez’s extra point.

With 1:40 left to play the and crowd feeling the game was over, the Bobcats seemingly let its guard down a little; because before the crowd, and the team, could stop celebrating the fumble return, the panthers had put a touchdown on the board and pulled within a touchdown of the home team, 24-17.

The Bobcats recovered the onside kick with 1:07 on the clock. Gilmer ran the clock out, securing the 24-17 win. Gilmer now sits at 3-1.

Coach Tankersley believed in his team and it showed in his play calling. The players believed they could win and it showed on the score board.

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