By Deunte Marshall/Sports Correspondent
Glencoe kept its playoffs chances intact with a 28-26 win over Cleveland Panthers (3-4, 2-3) on Friday at GHS.
“Tonight was a hard fought win for us,” said Glencoe head coach Lee Ozmint.
“Our guys played with a lot of character and grit. I hate that for those [Cleveland] guys. They played hard and so did we and someone had to fall short tonight. Our kids made the plays we needed to win.”
Peyton Gillian of Cleveland scored the game’s first touchdown on a 15-yard scamper, capping off a seven-play, 57-yard drive with 6:59 remaining in the half.
On the ensuing drive, the Yellow Jacket (4-3, 3-2) evened the scoret with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Stone to Houston Word with 3:40 remaining in the first half.
It took the Panthers only 52 seconds to score in the second half, as a 70-yard catch and run from Emanuel Terry gave Cleveland its final lead of the contest. A pair of pass interference penalties kept the ensuing Glencoe drive alive, ann Stone took advantage with a 9-yard touchdown strike to Pace Ozmint with 5:24 remaining in the third quarter
The Yellow Jacket defense then forced a three-and-out, and Glencoe took advantage of a short field with Thomas Ozmint’s 8-yard score, giving the Jackets a 21-14 lead heading into the final quarter.
On the following possession, Gillian completed three passes for over 10 yards before taking it in from the 1-yard line.
The extra point was missed, however, keeping the Glencoe lead at 21-20. Glencoe answered with an 11-play, 73-yard drive that Stone capped off with a five-yard touchdown run with 4:38 remaining in the game.
On the Panthers’ final drive of the game Trevor Yates got loose for a 24-yard run. Gillian hit Emanuel Terry for a 12-yard gain and three plays later Gillian scampered in the end zone from 13 yards out, but the two-point conversion to tie the game was broken up by Pace Ozmint to seal the victory for the Jackets.
Stone rushed for 169 yards on 24 carries, while Thomas Ozmint ran 13 times for 109 yards. Stone completed 3-of-7 passes for 49 yards.
Mason Brown finished with 20 tackles, followed by Andrew Willis with 13 and Taylor Daugherty and Pace Ozmint with 11 each.
Glencoe travels to Susan Moore on Friday for more region action.