The Panthers of Yazoo County dropped to 5-5 (3-2 in conference) to end the regular season on Thursday night when they were defeated 20-6 by Charleston.
Yazoo County head football coach Robert Dobbs believes his team had their opportunities to take the game, but they were unable to capitalize in the moment.
“They’re not as dominant as they have been in the past,” Dobbs. “But they’re still a very good football team. We had our chances early on. If we had been able put it in the end zone in the first or second drive, it might have been a different outcome. Like I said we had our chances.”
Charleston struck first in the game between the big cats.
A touchdown and 2-point conversion in the first quarter gave them an 8-0 lead that held strong until halftime.
The Tigers stormed out after the half and put up 12 more points to extend their lead to 20-0.
The Panthers stopped the shutout in the fourth quarter with a 67-yard touchdown run by Jamarion Stewart to cut the lead to 20-6, but that’s all they could muster.
Halted progress on drives killed the Panthers.
They could not convert good drives into points.
Dobbs felt like that was the difference in the game.
“You can’t turn the ball over like a team like that,” Dobbs said. “We only had one or two, but that was too many. It was a wet game. Driving the ball, we were fine. We just weren’t able to punch it in. We’re moving forward. We had a good defensive scheme against them. We just have to be able to get the ball into the end zone.”
Ben Luckett went 2-for-7 for nine yards with one interception. He also chipped in eight rushes for 19 yards with two fumbles lost and had seven total tackles.
Kory Gainwell had 10 carries for 60 yards in the loss. Gainwell also had seven total tackles and a pass deflection in the loss.
Jamarion Stewart finished the night with three carries for 67 yards with one touchdown.
Tredarius Carr chipped in nine total tackles, one of which was for loss, a sack, and a quarterback hurry.
Dveyionte Brown had six total tackles, one of which was for a loss.
Tyler Lambert and Alzavian Shelton each had five total tackles in the losing effort.
The Panthers begin their playoff march on Friday night when they travel to Water Valley to face the Blue Devils.
Water Valley is 9-2 on the year (4-1 in conference) after falling 52-19 to North Panola in the regular season finale.
Dobbs believes the simplicity and perfection of Water Valley’s offense could cause the Panthers problems.
“They’re a very well-coached team,” Dobbs said. “Their strength is on the offensive line. They have backs who like to get downhill. They also have some good receivers. It’s going to be a good game. They don’t do a whole lot, but they’re good at what they do. We have to come off the ball and keep a low pad level. They play a 2-quarterback system. One runs, and one throws. We definitely have a challenge, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. Anything can happen in the playoffs.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
