Sometimes a single play can seem to change the outcome of a game.
On Friday night that play was made by Cornelius Coleman.
Velma Jackson had a 13-12 lead with less than 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and a controversial facemask call gave the Falcons the first down in Panthers territory. It seemed like the Falcons had seized the momentum in a game that had been a battle from the start. But Coleman, a defensive lineman, grabbed an interception on the very next play to bring the Panthers offense back on the field.
Chandler Hardman scored to give the Panthers an 18-13 lead with 5:37 to play, and the defense held on to give Yazoo County the team’s first victory over Velma Jackson in several years. Hardman had a strong night with 18 carries for 170 yards and two receptions for 12 yards.
Yazoo County came out swinging with quarterback James Patterson connecting with Colin Washington for a 69-yard touchdown for a 6-0 lead with 10:22 to go in the first quarter. That would be the only score of the first half, however.
After a defensive showdown, Yazoo County held on to the six point lead at halftime.
Velma Jackson came out strong in the third quarter, keeping it on the ground and scoring on a 19-yard run up the middle.
The Falcons then blocked a punt to extend the lead to 13-6 with 7:35 to go in the third.
Headed into the final quarter, the Panthers made some major offensive changes with Washington and Patterson both injured.
Hardman took a direct snap for a 30-yard touchdown to cut it to 13-12 with 11:52 to go in the game.
Hardman and Gabe Shaffer kept the offense rolling with Shaffer getting a critical first down to keep the clock rolling with less than three minutes to go. Hardman’s second touchdown would turn out to be enough to win the game.
Velma Jackson had one more chance to score with just under a minute left, but the Panthers defense delivered again.
Coleman finished the game with five tackles and an interception.
Rodney Jefferson had nine tackles with one for loss. Dakwon Reasor had seven tackles with two for loss. Tradajen Nutall had four tackles, and Vinson Woodberry and Landon Lucas had three tackles each. Maurico Williams and Brendon Jenkins each had two tackles.
The Panthers (2-0) will make the short drive to Yazoo City (1-1) for the Battle of Yazoo this week.
