Lewis County beats Eagleville with big plays
EAGLEVILLE – Lewis County had one big play after another in the second quarter to pull away from Eagleville.
Three plays of over 50 yards were the difference as the Panthers scored three second-quarter touchdowns to take a 28-14 halftime lead, then went on to defeat Eagleville 48-14 Friday.
The Eagles had a couple of big plays themselves to score their two touchdowns, and they answered one of the Panthers’ big touchdowns with a big touchdown of their own, but it wasn’t enough.
“They big-played us a little bit in the first half,” said Eagleville coach Steve Carson. “But we made them snap it again a bunch of times.”
Eagleville’s Tyler Griffin intercepted Lewis County quarterback Dresden Barnes’ first pass attempt as the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter and he returned it 58 yards, tying the game at 7-all after the Panthers scored on their first possession of the game.
Four plays later the Panthers struck with a big play which could have been another interception. Barnes threw it deep downfield to senior Daven Odom. Griffin was defending him on the play and he batted the ball up in the air, and Odom came down with it.
Two plays later Odom scored from eight yards out to make it 14-7.
After Eagleville had to punt, the Panthers scored again with another big play. Odom took a pitch on a sweep play and went 61 yards into the end zone.
On their next play, the Eagles responded with a deep pass from freshman quarterback Ethan Cobb to sophomore Graham Hatcher for a 65 yard score.
“We got back in it then, it was 21-14, but then they got a big kickoff return, and we gave them a short field,” said Carson.
On the ensuing kickoff, Odom took it from his 15 and went to Eagleville’s 20, a 65-yard return, setting the Panthers up in excellent position.
They capitalized with a 16-yard touchdown run by Donovan Connor.
In the third quarter, A.J. Garza went out of the game with cramps and didn’t return.
Parker Stuard led the Eagles with 70 rushing yards, all in the second half.
“We’ll go back to work on Monday, and we’ll practice hard,” said Carson. “This is the toughest opening game that we’ve had since I’ve been here. At the end of the day, we just got beat by a better football team.”