t was fourth down with just 15.7 seconds on the clock, and Yazoo County was trailing 32-28 at Amanda Elzy on homecoming night.
Quarterback TJ Rials completed a pass to Jarrett Jasper for the touchdown.
Jasper made the catch in the right corner and stepped into the end zone, but an official on the other side of the field attempted to rule the pass incomplete. Fortunately for the Panthers, the officials with the clear line of sight on the play had the integrity to stand their ground despite the protests of one official who seemed to have a recipe for some Delta home cooking on his mind.
Rials added the extra point kick, and Yazoo County’s defense held on in the final seconds for the victory.
“It was a crazy finish, but we were able to prevail,” said head coach Robert Dobbs. “We knew coming in that this was going to be a close game, because they are always tough. Our kids gave a great effort tonight and played hard on both sides of the ball.”
One of the turning points of the game was a fake punt on fourth and seven near the end of the third quarter. Yazoo County was trailing 24-22 at the time, and Jasper faked the punt for a first down that set up a scoring drive on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Rials.
“I told him that if he looked out there and realized that he had the edge he had free rein to fake the punt,” Dobbs said. “We saw that they didn’t have anyone out there on the edge on the first punt, and I told him that the fake might be open.”
Yazoo County was first to score when Chandler Hardman had a nine-yard touchdown carry. Xzavian Gainwell added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 7:10 to go in the first quarter.
Amanda Elzy had a nice punt on the following drive that pinned Yazoo County back in the endzone and set up a safety to cut it to 8-2 and bring the home team offense back on the field. Amanda Elzy took advantage of the opportunity and scored for a 10-8 lead with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.
Hardman scored his second touchdown of the night on a three-yard run, and Yazoo County led 16-10 with 4:28 in the second quarter after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
Amanda Elzy responded with a big play on fourth down and 12 and a 22-yard touchdown pass.
Devon Fountain intercepted the extra point pass attempt, and the game was tied 16-16 with 4:11 to go before halftime.
Cameron Williams caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Rials to give the Panthers a 22-16 lead, but Amanda Elzy quickly responded for a 24-22 lead that they would take into halftime.
Jasper’s successful fake punt was the highlight of a scoreless third quarter that set up the thrilling finish.
Rials finished the game completing 11-of-15 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also had four carries for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Williams had six catches for 52 yards and a touchdown, and Jasper had three receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown and three carries for 35 yards. Malikh Brown had two catches for 35 yards.
Daniel Washington made his debut with the Panthers with three carries for 27 yards.
