By Joe Crowe
The Center Point High Eagles’ defense held until the fourth quarter, but the Pell City Panthers broke through to win the game at home in Pete Rich Stadium, 24-17.
Center Point came into tonight’s game in Pell City after a powerhouse performance against Huffman High last week, 56-0. They head home with the first blemish on this season’s record, bringing them to 3-1. On the other side of the field, Pell City earned its first win of the season and is now 1-3.
A busy first quarter ended with Center Point on top 8-7. Pell City’s #4, Caleb Groce, scored with a 25-yard rushing TD. With three minutes to go in the first quarter, Center Point rushed three yards to get on the board, then #22 Malik Brown ran in a 2-point conversion to set the score at 8-7.
Then the Eagles defense set up shop and it appeared that almost all of the second quarter was spent within the Eagles’ 20-yard line, where the Eagles frustrating the Panthers and keeping them away from the end zone.
To wrap up the first half, Pell City’s #19, Jake Blackstone, kicked for three, and ended the half on top 10-8.
Delay-of-game calls and a flurry of other penalties seemed to overwhelm Center Point throughout the second half. Pell City then moved further ahead with a 66-yard pass by #12 Nikita Getmanshchuk to #4 Caleb Groce. That and a point after set the Panthers on top at 17-8. The Eagles sprang to life with around 8 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, as they pounced on a fumble and returned for a touchdown. After a two-point conversion, the Eagles were within one point of the Panthers at 17-16.
That would be the last of the good news for Center Point, however, as Pell City’s #1 Markise Bedford made a 36-yard rush with only three minutes remaining on the clock. The final score: 24-16.
The Eagles outshined the Panthers in rushing yards per game, as the Eagles’ #21 Julius Finnerson earned 65.7 and Pell City’s Bedford earned 41.3.
After the game, Center Point coach George Bates summarized the game for his team: “We played not to lose, instead of playing to win.”
Coach Bates previewed the challenge of Clay-Chalkville next week. “They’re one of the best teams in the state. If we lick our wounds and feel sorry for ourselves, we’ll get beat by 100.”
“It’s a letdown, surely, but the playoffs are still there,” Bates said.
“We’ll find out a lot about ourselves, the mental makeup, next week, because Clay’s not going to hold any punches… it’s up to us to go out and make it a game,” Bates said