WS Chronicle

Photo by Timothy Ramsey

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY 

THE CHRONICLE

The Southfork Mity Mite Panthers were just crowned Winston-Salem champions the last Saturday in October.  Last Saturday they matched up against the Team Charlotte (TC) Bills for the Division 1 state championship.

The Panthers fell to the Bills by the score of 13-7 on a last second play that was overturned by the referee.  Panther wide receiver DeMarlo Linville appeared to catch the ball on the last second play but he did not control the ball to the ground and the refs ruled that the pass was incomplete.

During the first half of play, neither offense could get on track.  The defenses held the upper hand and the first half ended with the score of 0-0.

Coming out of the half the Bills started to really grind in and out on the ground and move the ball.  Following a long drive the Bills scored first.

To start the fourth quarter the Panthers finally got on track offensively when Marcus Aikens Jr. broke multiple tackles and outran the defense for a 70-yard touchdown.  The Panthers did not make the conversion and still trailed 7-6.

Now having the momentum, the Panthers stopped the next drive from the Bills and were moving into their territory when they fumbled the quarterback to running back exchange and the Bills recovered.  On the very next play, Bills running back Reginald Holt broke free for a touchdown run that made the score 13-6.

The Panthers received the ball with 42 seconds left in the game. Quarterback Jacob Smith was inserted because of his passing ability and he was able to move the ball inside the red zone with the help of a late hit penalty on the Bills.  With one second left on the clock Smith threw the ball to DeMarlo Linville, who jumped and initially caught the pass but as he went to the ground the ball squirted out.  It was first ruled a touchdown but after a referee huddle they ruled it incomplete.

It was a touch loss for the Panthers but they have been invited to Florida for the national tournament on Dec. 3-8.