By Chris Benefield/Sports Correspondent
Southside High continued posted a 62-14 homecoming shellacking of Class 5A, Region 7 rival Brewer on Friday (Sept. 18) at Barney Hood Stadium.
The Panthers (3-2, 2-0) struck early and often as they completely dominated the Patriots (0-4, 0-3) on both sides of the ball.
The visitors from Somerville returned the opening kickoff to the 28, then lost six yards on three plays and shanked a 15-yard punt to set Southside up at the Brewer 37.
Woody Fry then went 36 yards around end and one yard off tackle for the opening touchdown, putting the Panthers up 6-0 with 9:49 left in the first quarter.
Austin Winningham returned the next Brewer punt 33 yards to the Patriot 33, and three plays later Kenneth Bothwell scampered 28 yards for the second Panther score. Kristian Wilmore’s PAT made it 13-0 at the 8:18 mark.
Bothwell and Fry were among those taking up the slack for slightly injured junior running back Alaric Williams, who was being held out for precautionary reasons.
Brewer resorted to some trickery on its next possession, but a fake punt on fourth down and 6 only gained three yards, and Southside was once again in business at the Patriot 25.
After Beau McConnell ripped off a 10-yard gain, it was Bothwell again for a nine-yard score. Wilmore kicked the extra point to make it 20-0 at 5:15.
After the fourth consecutive Brewer three-and-out, the Panthers rounded out the first quarter scoring when quarterback Triston Shaw hooked up with Austin Brewer for a 47-yard touchdown. Wilmore’s PAT made it 27-0 with 2:34 showing on the first quarter clock.
The second quarter was more of the same. After a turnover stopped one drive, took the Panthers only two plays after a short Brewer punt to dent the scoreboard again. This time it was McConnell from 27 yards out, and Wilmore brought it to 34-0 at the 7:16 mark of the second period.
Austin Brewer returned an interception 59 yards for six points to finish the first half scoring at 41-0.
In the second half featured many reserves from each squad, and both the Panthers and Patriots exchanged lengthy touchdown drives. Southside scored three times and the Pats found the end zone twice. Tyler Abernathy and Preston Rich joined Bothwell in the Panther scoring column, and Carter West provided three extra points.
Bothwell led the Southside ground game with 136 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries, while McConnell added 80 yards and a score on six totes.
The Panthers travel to Odenville this Friday (Sept. 25) for a non-region game with St. Clair County.