PANTHERS EARN THRILLING LAST-MINUTE WIN OVER SHEFFIELD; CAP OFF A WINNING SEASON WITH COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORY

The Panthers closed their season with another come-from-behind win (20-12) over Lexington. Lexington had taken an early 6-0 lead and upped that to 12-0 on the first play of the second half. The Panthers got their first score on a 19-yard-run by Ethan Smith in the 3rd quarter. The try for 2 was successful cutting the Golden Bear's lead to 12-8. After swapping punts, MH faced a 3rd and 21 at the Lexington 32 yard line. Quarterback Ben August ran around right end on a run/pass option, tight roped the sideline and dove into the end zone giving the Panthers their first lead of the night (14-12). After Lexington was stopped on 4th down, the Panthers took over at the Lexington 35 with 2:38 remaining. On first down, John Daniel Grissom broke free off left tackle and scored, giving MH a 20-12 lead. The Panthers completed their second season of football with a winning record (5-3). Even more remarkable, the squad only had 14 players. Most of the season, due to injury or illness, the team played with only 12 or 13 players dressed out. They averaged 23 points per game while allowing 16. They also enjoyed playing before our home crowd winning three of four home games.

 

In the next-to-last game, trailing Sheffield 28-24 with no timeouts and only 30 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, John Daniel Grissom made the play of the game as he caused a Sheffield fumble and the Panthers recovered at the Bulldog’s 6-yard line. One play was all that was needed as Ben August found Ethan Smith open at the 3-yard line and Smith “bulldogged” his way into the end zone for the winning score. The 2-point conversion made the final score 32-28. Sheffield opened the scoring on their first offensive play of the game, but the Panthers answered when August scored on a 15-yard run. Grissom added the 2-point PAT. The Panthers scored again when Grissom scored from nine yards out and the PAT pushed the lead to 16-6. Sheffield scored two more times and then stopped the Panthers at the 1-yard line on the final play of the first half, leaving the Bulldogs ahead 20-16 at the half. MHBS opened the second half by recovering an onside kick and putting together a touchdown drive that took almost five minutes. Grissom scored on a 9-yard run, putting the Panthers back in front 24-20. Sheffield took a 28-24 lead into the fourth quarter. After putting together a deep drive late in the fourth quarter, the Panthers were stopped by Sheffield stopped inside the Bulldogs 20-yard line with 1:30 to go. Holding Sheffield to a 3rd and 3, the Mars Hill defense got the ball back for the offense and MH took advantage of the opportunity.

 

The Panthers won their home opener 14-6 over Hatton the last week in September in front of an estimated crowd of 700. With the new permanent bleachers and new goals posts in place, the Panthers took a 6-0 lead to the halftime locker room. Hatton scored in the 3rd quarter to tie the game at 6-6. The Panthers scored the winning touchdown on a 9 yard run by Ethan Smith with 5:10 remaining in the final period. Ben August added the 2-point conversion. The Panther defense stopped the last Hatton possession and the offense ran out the clock for the win. The Panthers got the win using only 12 players.

 

MHBS opened the 2011-2012 season in style with a 42-0 victory over West Limestone. Ethan Smith and John Daniel Grissom scored two touchdowns each for MHBS while Barrett Hibbett and Hayden Hibbett had one touchdown each. Fletcher Hardy had a fumble recovery, a blocked punt and three QB sacks to lead the defense. The Panthers scored on their first possession of the game and led 28-0 at halftime. It marked the first road win in the history of the program and the first shutout in program history. They picked up their second win in week 2, a 36-2 victory over Tharptown. John Daniel Grissom broke a 57-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter and Ethan Smith scored twice on runs of 30 and 52 yards. Ben August and Barrett Hibbett also scored touchdowns for the Panthers. Ben August and Riley Killen came up with key interceptions for the defense and John Daniel Grissom was involved in 15 tackles.

 

FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS 2010-2011

Veterans Park was the site for the first Panther football game under AHSAA sanctions. Barrett Hibbett scored the school's first touchdown as over 500 fans came to see the opening of the football era. In the game with Lauderdale County, Ethan Smith broke away for the longest run of the season, a 70-yard dash for a touchdown against Lauderdale County on September 20.

 

 

MHBS FOOTBALL