When Panthers quarterback TJ Rials completed a touchdown pass to Malikh Brown for a 37-36 lead with just 3:40 left in the game, it seemed like Yazoo County was finally going to overcome numerous setbacks in the first round playoff game.
But the remaining time proved to be plenty for Rosa Fort to respond, and with a successful two point conversion the Lions took a 44-37 lead with just 23 seconds left on the clock.
Rials completed a first down pass to Jarrett Jasper, and a personal foul on the Lions gave Yazoo County a fighting chance in the final seconds. With three seconds to go, Rials threw one last pass to Jasper that was broken up right at the goal line.
Rosa Fort walked away with the 44-37 win and ended Yazoo County’s season in a game where the Panthers were plagued by turnovers on a rainy night.
The Lions scored on the first drive of the game for a quick 8-0 lead.
Jasper and Chandler Hardman opened Yazoo County’s first drive with back-to-back first down runs, but the drive stalled, and Rosa Fort took over at midfield after a turnover on downs.
The Panthers defense rose to the occasion, and Yazoo County’s offense was quickly back on the field after a short punt.
Rials got a big first down run with an added 15-yard penalty after he was hit out of bounds for first and goal. Dewayne Brown powered through the line to the one to set up the touchdown, and Rials completed the two point conversion pass to Jasper to tie the game 8-8 with 4:10 to go in the first quarter.
The Lions quickly responded for a 16-8 lead with 12 seconds left in the first.
Rosa Fort recovered a fumble on the first play of the next drive to set up another score.
Ty Boddy made a stop to prevent the two point conversion, and the Lions held a 22-8 lead.
Jasper caught a first down pass as time expired on the first quarter and opened the second quarter with a first down run. Amarynn Miles added another first down run for first and goal.
Dewayne Brown capped the drive with a touchdown, and Rials added the extra point kick to cut it to 22-15 with 9:53 to go before halftime.
Yazoo County’s defense created an opportunity with KJ Moore getting a tackle in the backfield on third down and Jorden Banks and Moore making the stop on fourth down for a turnover on downs.
The Panthers started with a first down pass to Malikh Brown, a short pass to Colin Washington and a first down run by Hardmen, but the drive stalled after that.
Jasper got off a great punt to pin the Lions back on the two.
At halftime Rosa Fort still held on to the 22-15 lead.
Yazoo County scored first in the third quarter to tie the game 22-22.
Rosa Fort responded with a touchdown on fourth and goal to take a 30-22 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter.
Hardman broke loose for a long touchdown to cut the lead to 30-28 after an unsuccessful two point conversion attempt.
The Panthers defense held the Lions to another punt, but Rosa Fort recovered another fumble.
Dewayne Brown came through with a tackle in the endzone for a safety that tied the game 30-30 with 10:54 left in the final quarter.
Rosa Fort scored again, but could not add the extra point to make it 36-30 with 4:29 left.
Yazoo County would take the lead in the final minutes, but the Panthers could not stop Rosa Fort from answering.
With the loss Yazoo County’s season came to an end with a 5-6 record.
