Photo: Boaz’s Jacob Gareri (3) zeroes in on Southside’s Mason Teague during the Panthers’ 48-45 win in overtime on Friday, Sept. 29 at Barney Hood Stadium. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
By Ricky Smith/For Sand Mountain Reporter
Down 14 points early in the fourth quarter, Southside rallied for a 48-45 win in overtime over Boaz on Friday, Sept. 29 at Barney Hood Stadium in the Panthers’ homecoming game.
The Pirates (2-4) took a 42-28 lead with 10:29 left in the game on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tyler Pierce.
The Pirates had a chance to extend the lead after recovering a fumble at the Panther 29-yard line on Southside’s next play from scrimmage. But Boaz was forced to attempt a field goal and missed from 32-yards out with 6:29 left in the game.
Southside (5-1) then drove 80 yards in seven plays to cut the deficit to 42-35 on Mason Teague’s 19-yard run with 3:44 left. Caleb Ogle kicked the PAT.
The Pirates failed to pick up a first down on the ensuing possession and were forced to punt the ball back to Southside, which took possession at its 23.
After Teague reeled off runs of eight and three yards, quarterback Jordan Bryan hit Cayden McMichael for 36 yards to the Boaz 30. After a false start penalty, Bryan and McMichael connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds remaining. Ogle tied it at 42 with the point-after to send the game into the extra session.
Boaz got the ball first in overtime. Tristan Childers rushed for six yards. Pierce then hit Jakai Hudgins for two yards to the Panther 1. On third down, Childers was stopped for no gain.
Boaz was called for a false start penalty that put the ball back at the 6. Jose Arreguin was called upon to kick a 22-yard field goal that gave the Pirates a 45-42 lead.
Teague was dropped for a yard loss on Southside’s first play on OT, but Koal Garrett found the end zone on the ensuing play for the game winner from 11 yards out.
Teague led all runners with 204 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns. Bryan was 9 of 12 in passing for 209 yards and three scores. McMichael caught seven passes for 174 yards.
Childers led Boaz with 132 yards on 30 carries while Presley Fant had 108 on 18 carries. Pierce was 7 for 12 for 139 yards and three touchdown passes, all to Hudgins, who caught six passes for 144 yards.
Southside took a 14-0 lead with Teague touchdown runs of 74 and six yards in the first quarter.
Boaz got on the board on its next possession when Childers scored on a seven-yard run. Arreguin kicked the PAT to cut it to 14-7 with 6:03 left in the opening quarter.
Southside then drove to the Boaz 24, but Fant intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards to the Boaz 43 to set up the next Pirate scoring drive, which ended with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Pierce to Hudgins 38 seconds into the second quarter. Arreguin tied it up with the PAT.
After forcing a Southside punt, Boaz drove 87 yards while using 14 plays to take its first lead. The score came on another Pierce-to-Hudgins touchdown pass, this one from 25 yards. Arreguin’s PAT gave Boaz a 21-14 lead with 2:17 left in the first half.
The Panthers responded with Bryan’s 19-yard touchdown pass to McMichael with 22 seconds left. Ogle tied it with the PAT at 21.
Boaz scored on its first two possessions of the third quarter. The Pirates took the opening possession 76 yards with Pierce hooking up with Hudgins for the third time, this time on a seven-yard touchdown pass with 8:26 left in the third. Arreguin made it 28-21 with the extra point.
After forcing a Panther punt, Boaz used four plays to go 65 yards, with Pierce scoring on a 51-yard run. Arreguin kicked the PAT to make it 35-21 with 4:03 left in the third.
But Southside would answer again, as Bryan threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to McMichael late in the third quarter. Ogle’s point-after cut the lead to 35-28.
Southside resumes Class 5A Region 6 play on Friday, Oct. 6 at home against Leeds.