Photo: Southside’s Cayden McMichael (9) and Carson Riddlespur (6) converge on Arab’s Josh Roe (33) during the Panthers’ 24-7 loss on September 17. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
Southside failed to overcome a 17-0 deficit in a 24-7 defeat at the hands of Class 6A, Region 7 rival Arab on September 17 at Barney Hood Stadium.
The Panthers’ lone score came on Gauge Nesmith’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Cody Roberts and Abdullah Allabassi’s extra point with 49 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Hat TD pulled Southside within 17-7, but the Knights sealed the win on Ed Johnson’s 2-yatd touchdown run early on the fourth period.
Nesmith completed 15 of 30 passes for 206 yards. Damion Hitchcock caught six passes for 81 yards, while Cayden McMichael had four receptions for 62 yards and Roberts caught four passes for 57 yards.
Tytan Rich had 14 tackles, followed by Koal Garrett with 12, Ethan Light with eight, Carson Riddlespur with nine, John Gilbert with seven, Jacob Davis with six and Spencer Sharpe, Broady Johnson and Jerrod Harden with five each.
The Panthers (3-2, 2-1) host Etowah County neighbor Sardis in a non-region game on Friday, September 24.
