Kenneth Gainwell scored three rushing touchdowns and completed a touchdown pass to Dontrell Green to lead Yazoo County to a 30-20 win over Germantown.
Gainwell had 241 yards on 24 carries and completed 6-of-12 passes for 139 yards with one interception late in the game.
Green was his favorite target with three receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown.
The Panthers defense held the Mavericks on the first drive to set up Yazoo County’s first score. Gainwell connected with Matthew Mann for a first down pass to start things off.
Gainwell appeared to be in trouble on the next play as he scrambled to the right under heavy pressure. He turned back and escaped his defenders, however, and found Green deep downfield for a 70-yard touchdown.
Devarrio Sanders punched in the two-point conversion to give the Panthers an 8-0 lead with 8:42 to go in the first quarter.
Germantown answered with a 34-yard touchdown run by Noah Greenwood. The Mavericks added an extra point kick to cut the lead to 8-7 with 6:27 left in the first quarter.
The Mavericks took the lead midway through the second quarter when Johnny Moss scored on a two-yard fullback dive. With the extra point, Germantown was up 14-8.
Yazoo County wasted no time responding. Gainwell had a pair of first down carries with a late hit penalty adding 15 yards to the second run. Devarrio Sanders then advanced the ball to the five yard line for first and goal.
Gainwell capped the drive with a one-yard run and added the two-point conversion for a 16-14 lead with 4:08 to go in the first half.
Yazoo County built on the lead in the third quarter when Gainwell scored another touchdown and found Sanders once again for the two-point pass. The Panthers now held a 24-14 lead with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter.
Gainwell added a 45-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper with 3:34 to go in the third.
Germantown took a gamble later in the quarter and went for it on fourth down, but Alphonso Ray made the stop and put Yazoo County back in the driver’s seat.
Gainwell threw his only interception of the night early in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks were unable to make anything happen. Another attempt to go for a first down on fourth down was stopped by a wall of Panthers defenders.
Germantown added a touchdown with 2:38 in the game, but the Panthers held on for the 30-20 victory.
Cherokee Edwards finished the night with 12 carries for 44 yards. Devarrio Sanders added 35 yards on six carries.
On defense Kendarrion Dixon had 11 tackles, with three for loss, five sacks and two pass deflections.
Ben Luckett had eight tackles, with two for loss, and five sacks.
Demartel Carter had seven tackle, with two for loss, and one sack.
Austin Dees had six tackles and five sacks. Laravean Edwards had five tackles and a pass deflection. Kory Gainwell had four tackles and two pass deflections. Jesse Henderson had six tackles with one for loss.
Yazoo County takes the short drive to Yazoo City this week for a battle between two rivals with 2-0 records on the season.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
