With a 19-15 win over Crystal Springs on Friday night, the Panthers have been placed firmly in the driver’s seat for second place in the district.
The win pushed the Panthers’ record to 8-2 on the season (3-1 in the district).
The weather situation was not ideal, but the game had to go on.
The Panthers and Tigers each were able to score a touchdown in the first quarter of play to make it a 7-7 game.
Yazoo County took the lead in the second quarter with another touchdown to make it a 13-7 game at the half.
Early on in the fourth quarter, the Tigers scored a touchdown and got the 2-point conversion, giving them a 15-13 lead with much of the quarter left to play.
It was then that Kory Gainwell struck.
Yazoo County head coach Robert Dobbs thought Gainwell played well, but no play was bigger than his touchdown, which put the Panthers up 19-15.
“Kory Gainwell scored a touchdown midway in the 4th quarter to put us ahead,” Dobbs said. “He played well with great effort on both sides of the ball tonight.”
All that was left at the point was for the defense to do what they have done all year: make a play.
And they did just that.
“I am extremely proud of the effort our guys displayed tonight,” Dobbs said. “We didn’t quit. Defense made a big stop in the 4th quarter to seal the win.”
Junior lineman Blake Granderson was masterful in the trenches for the Panthers in the victory. He allowed zero sacks and graded out at 90%. He had three pancake blocks, five total tackles solos, and two tackles for loss.
"Blake did a wonderful job of blocking their best defensive end,” Dobbs said. “Blake blocked him effectively all night. He didn't allow any sacks, nor hits tonight. He is starting to become a good lineman for us on both sides of the ball."
The Panthers will finish off the regular season on Friday night when McLaurin comes to town for senior night. A win will lock up a second-place finish for the Panthers.
McLaurin is 2-8 on the season (0-4 in district) after falling to Velma Jackson 55-6 this Friday night.
Kickoff at Yazoo County is set for 7 p.m.
