The Plant Panthers put together a 78 yard game-winning drive in the final three minutes of play to pull out a hard fought, 24-20 victory Friday night over the visiting Sickles Gryphons. But, if ever two teams could both be satisfied with the final outcome, just maybe this was the night. In a non-district game that had no bearing on possible state championship runs, both teams came away with take-a-ways of a positive nature. The Panthers proved that they could make the big play in crunch-time, when the game was on the line. The Gryphons, on the other hand, though no-doubt disappointed with the final outcome, can take solace in the fact that they more than held their own with a perennial local power and came less than a minute away from claiming victory.
On a clear night that suggested that fall may not be too far off after all, Plant got the ball first, but could do nothing with it. Sickles fared little better with its opening drive. A nice punt return from Plant senior Alexander Jackson was nullified by a holding call against the Panthers – one of many penalties called against the home team over the course of the game. Jackson then coughed up the ball on the next play from scrimmage, giving the Gryphons great field position deep in Plant territory. Sickles gave Plant a quick and heavy dose of highly-touted junior running back Ray Ray McCloud III, who made his third carry of the night count when he scampered in from the 10 yard line. A successful PAT gave the Gryphons an early 7-0 lead. But it was a lead that would not last long. Senior Bernard Rogers returned the ensuing kickoff 70-plus yards for a touchdown. John Houston’s extra point knotted the score at 7-7.
A 28 yard run by Sickles senior fullback Justin Harris, followed by a long gain from junior quarterback Isaac Holder, set up McCloud’s second TD of the opening quarter — an 11-yard run — and Sickles took a 14-7 lead into the second quarter. The teams then exchanged possessions, each turning the ball over on downs. Plant came up empty again, but McCloud lost the handle on the Panther punt and Plant senior Fletcher Barnes recovered the fumble at the Sickles 38 yard line. It took the Panthers all of one play to tie the game up at 14. Senior QB Colby Brown hit classmate Austin Hudson with a 38-yard scoring strike, with Hudson doing his best imitation of Randy Moss to haul in the pass in the end zone.
On its next possession, Sickles continued to move the ball effectively — primarily on the ground behind McCloud, but also had key conversions on the ground and through the air from Holder. When the drive stalled, Sickles kicker Daniel Lezotte connected on a 30-yard field goal to give the Gryphons a 17-14 lead with 5:28 remaining in the first half. Once again, Plant responded, beginning the drive with a 27 yard pass from Brown to Barnes to move the ball into Sickles’ territory. Brown and senior Patrick Brooks each picked up key first downs. But a pair of incomplete passes sandwiched around a penalty and punctuated by a loss on a bad snap forced a Panther field goal attempt. Junior Clarke Miller’s kick was true from 42 yards out. Sickles was able to run out the clock and the first half came to an end with the score tied 17-17.
The third quarter featured some tough defensive stands by both teams, a handful of punts, two Panther turnovers (one interception and one fumble), but no scoring from either team. The fourth quarter started with Plant converting a 4th and one from the Gryphon 5 yard line. A couple of false start penalties and 3rd down incompletion later, Plant looked to take the lead with a 30 yard field goal attempt. But, Houston’s kick was just wide and the scored remained tied.
On its ensuing possession, Sickles quickly flipped the field around behind a long catch and run connection from Holder to senior receiver Jaaron Barrett. Plant’s defense stiffened and Sickles was forced to attempt a field goal of its own. Lezotte’s 41 yard effort was good with plenty of room to spare and with just over 7 minutes remaining in the game, Sickles had regained the lead, 20-17.
Plant went backwards on its next possession, forcing the Panthers to give the ball up. Sickles took over at its own 40 yard line with a chance to run out the clock. The Gryphons managed to pick up one quick first down behind McCloud, but then stumbled with a fumble (that they recovered), a 2-yard loss and an incomplete pass. The Sickles punt went out of bounds on the Plant 22, leaving the Panthers with just over 3 minutes to travel 78 yards.
The Panthers immediately cut that distance in half with a successful double pass (Brown to Jackson to Hudson). Brooks then scampered in from 38 yards, only to have the run called back because of a holding penalty. From just its side of midfield, Brown then threw a pass down the right sidelines that looked all but intercepted before Jackson managed to muscle the ball away and come down with the completion at the Sickles 19 yard line. A few plays later, Brown looked to Jackson again, this time in the end zone. An pass interference call gave the Panthers a 3rd and one from the Gryphon 10. Brown carried the ball up the middle down to the 5, setting up a game-winning, 5-yard touchdown run from Brooks with just under 30 seconds remaining in the game. Houston’s PAT was successful and Plant had its first lead of the night, 24 – 20.
Sickles opened up the playbook in the final half minute of play, attempting a double-lateral, Hail Mary pass on the final play of the game. But the ball fell incomplete and Plant hung on to a thrilling 4-point victory over a team that several in the local media predicted would win — and a team that certainly played well enough to do just that. But, in the end, perhaps Plant regained a little of its mojo by pulling out a nail-biter in the final seconds of the game.
Sickles dropped its first game of the season and is now 5-1. The Gryphons look to get back on the winning track when it hosts the Gaither Cowboys next Friday night. Plant ups its record to 5-1-1 and hosts district foe Newsome the same night.
– Robert Barnes