BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
At long last – the Paschal Panthers will be headed to the playoffs.
Dylan Williams blocked Fort Worth Wyatt’s potential game-winning field goal as time expired and the Panthers defeated the Chaparrals 30-28 on Thursday night at Clark Stadium.
The Panthers (6-2, 5-1 in 4-5A D1) are playoff bound for the first time since the 1995 season.
Both teams traded early touchdowns with Paschal getting a 22-yard run from Jashuan Thomas and Wyatt finding the end zone on Jorvorskie Lane Jr.’s 9-yard scamper. But Wyatt missed the extra point and Paschal led 7-6 with 4:12 left in the first quarter.
Panthers’ running back Marquez Dean, who finished with 103 yards rushing, added a 28-yard scoring run to cap off an 8 play 80 yard drive. Paschal led 14-6 with 1:02 left in the frame. Luke Jowers intercepted a Wyatt pass on the ensuing drive that led to a 30-yard field goal by Josh Wedemyer to up the lead to 17-6 with 10:37 left in the second.
Hedges Ferry registered a second Paschal interception and the Panthers held onto that lead at half.
Wyatt (2-6, 2-4) took the opening drive of the third quarter 70 yards on nine plays capped by Lane Jr.’s 2-yard TD run. The Chaparrals added a 2-point try to pull within three at the 7:43 mark.
Paschal came back and answered with a 3-yard TD by Thomas to go back up 24-14 a little over five minutes later. Lane Jr. scored another TD (3 yard) and Wyatt trailed 24-21 with 11:25 left in the game.
Another answer from Paschal – this time on Luke Tevis’ 9-yard touchdown put Paschal ahead 30-21 after the extra point failed with 8:08 to go. Lane Jr. Hit Xavier Walker for a 64-yard TD and it was 30-28 midway through the fourth quarter.
Paschal lost the ball on downs and Wyatt took over at its own 35 with 3:24 to play.
The Chaparrals drove to the Paschal 9 to set up the game-winning 25-yard field goal when Williams got past the block and got a hand on the ball to secure the history making victory.
