By Joe Crowe, For the Tribune
SPRINGVILLE – The Springville Tigers’ battle against the Pell City Panthers did not really get started until deep into the third quarter, then went beyond the time limit into overtime. Springville came away with the win, 31-28.
Senior running back Mahlon Alverson put the Tigers on the scoreboard in the first quarter.
The Panthers, led by Coach Rush Propst in his first season, were in the lead over the Tigers at the half, 18-7.
With 1:26 left in the third, Springville pulled ahead, 18-17.
Alverson led the Springville rally with a 6-yard touchdown, setting the score at 25-17.
With less than five minutes remaining, a 5-yard TD run and a two-point conversion by Pell City set the score at 25-25, and stayed there despite both teams’ efforts, as the clock hit zero.
The squad of referees conferred at midfield for what must have seemed like an hour for both sides. Pell City won a coin toss, then landed a field goal to go ahead 28-25.
However, Alverson kept the rally alive, and sealed the Panthers’ fate with a one-yard rushing TD. Final score: 31-28 Springville.
The last time the county rivals faced off was last year, when Pell City set a Panthers high score record when they put down Springville 70 to 40.