By Adam Crocker/Sports Correspondent
Southside celebrated both Senior Night and Homecoming last Friday (Oct. 28) with a 28-21 victory over Etowah County rival Glencoe at Barney Hood Stadium.
It was the final game of the season for both local squads. The Panthers finished the year at 6-4, while the Yellow Jackets wound up at 3-7. Southside improved to 27-39 overall in a series that began in 1930.
“At the beginning of the year, were really young on the defensive side of the ball, [and] those kids did a lot of growing up,” said Southside head coach Ron Daugherty. “The big thing for us was eliminating mistakes. We thought we had some things that were going to work, but they’re not going to work when you make mistakes.”
The winning score came with 4:14 left in the game on Alaric Williams’ touchdown run from 49 yards out. Nolan Johnson’s PAT capped off the three-play, fifty-six yard possession.
The above scoring drive was preceded by Cole Holbrooks’ 28-yard TD pass to Aaron Bush. Katie Smith’s PAT was good, making it 21-21 with 5:53 remaining in the contest. Holbrooks and Cade Alred kicked off the drive with four combined runs for 15 yards. Holbrooks then connected through the air with Aaron Bush and Jacob Amberson for another 11.
The hosts started the game off with a six-play, 77-yard scoring drive. Woody Fry started off the series with a two-yard dash. Kenneth Bothwell’s five-yard dash set up the Panthers on their own 30. Three plays later, Triston Shaw’s 33-yard scoring pass to Williams was good for six points. Johnson’s PAT made it 7-0 with 9:28 remaining in the first period.
The ball traded hands several times until the 8:48 mark of the second quarter, when the Yellow Jackets put points on the board. Noah Huff’s fumble recovery set up Alred’s’20-yard scoring pass to Aaron Bush. Smith’s kick tied up the score at 7-7.
The Panthers didn’t take long to respond.
Respective big plays from Williams and Fry set up a 38-yard touchdown run by Fry. Johnson’s kick made 14-7 with 5:53 remaining in the first half.
The guests soon tied the game, this time with a six-play, 68-yard drive that ended with Micah Sizemore’s 10-yard TD dash and Smith’s PAT with 9:55 remaining in the third.
The deadlock lasted until the 9:35 mark in the final period, when Williams’ one-yard touchdown run and Johnson’s PAT gave the Panthers a 21-14 lead.
“We were down 14-7, and came back down and stuck it in and we got back down 21-14 and came back and made it 21-21,” said Glencoe head coach Rusty Davis. “Our kids played with heart, and it’s just a tribute to them.”
Fry ran the ball 16 times for 133 yards.
For the Yellow Jackets, Alred rushed 12 times for 44 yards, while Holbrooks added 32 yards on nine carries.
Holbrooks was 11 for 26 in passing for 98 yards. Aaron Bush caught four passes for 52 yards.
Bradley Scott led Glencoe defensively with 11 tackles, followed by Aaron Bush with 10, Huff with nine, Sizemore with six and Austin Bush with five.