Panthers fail to ground Highland air attack in 24-20 CCC defeat

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by Mark Cheffey

The PHS varsity football team had no answers for Highland’s air attack in a 24-20 loss at Ewing Friday.

Cougar senior quarterback Drew Mallet threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and the Cougar defense stood tough in stopping Palmyra’s final scoring chance late in the fourth quarter to earn a rare win over the Panthers.

Meanwhile, Palmyra’s offense struggled in the second half as the team dealt with injuries to starting quarterback, Collin Arch, and wide receiver, Hayes Miller.

The Panthers (3-4, 3-2 CCC) took the lead on their first possession of the fourth quarter behind Adam Goodwin, a senior tight end, who replaced Arch as quarterback for the second half.

But, up by two with seven minutes left, Palmyra could not stop Mallet and his receivers as they went down field and scored to go up 24-20 with a little over two minutes left.

Palmyra had one more shot to regain the lead, but the Panther drive from their own 12 failed to get even a first down, and they turned the ball over on downs with little time remaining.

The victory, the first in a long time against Palmyra, boosted Highland to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the conference.

Palmyra forced Highland to punt on its first possession of the game, and responded by going 63 yards on nine plays and scoring when Arch shot up the middle for a three-yard score at the 6:31 mark of the first quarter.

Landyn Smith’s extra point gave Palmyra the early lead, but it came with a price.

Miller came up limping after an eight-yard run that gave Palmyra first and goal at the Highland three, and that would be his final play of the game.

The Cougars then responded with a 60-yard scoring drive capped by a 22-yard touchdown strike from Mallet to Drew Stutsman flying down the left side line.

Palmyra then gave Highland another opportunity when on their fourth play of the next possession, Arch threw an interception right into the arms of Cougar lineman, Coleman Hultz.

Two-plays later, Mallet and Stutsman hooked up again for a 28-yard touchdown pass that put the Cougars up 12-7 late in the first quarter.

The Panthers regained the lead early in the second quarter when a 60-yard drive ended on a 27-yard touchdown run by junior wide receiver, Ryan McKeown, and Smith’s extra-point kick put Palmyra up 14-12.

The Panthers had a chance to increase their lead after forcing Highland to punt, but ended up  having to punt from their own 16.

The Cougars took over with good field position on their own 41, but the Panthers looked poised to stop the drive when junior lineman, Noah Welty, got a tackle for loss on second down, and senior lineman, Brayden Madden, sacked Mallet for a six-yard loss on the next play.

But, faced with fourth down and 17 from the Palmyra 24, Mallet then hit Cameron Bringer for a 24-yard touchdown pass that gave Highland an 18-14 lead with 2:34 left in the half.

Palmyra’s final drive of the second half ended when Arch was intercepted for a second time at the Panthers own 36 with 1:28 left in the half.

Highland reached the Palmyra 27, before the drive ended on downs with 14 seconds left.

Goodwin took over for the injured Arch for the entire second half, and scored the Panthers only second half touchdown capping a 38-yard drive with a one-yard run to give Palmyra their final lead with 7:06 left in the game.

The Cougars managed to survive fourth and two from their own 37 when Mallet connected with Bringer on a 36-yard pass play to the Palmyra 27.

Six plays later, Mallet scored from the two to put Highland up for good.

Palmyra’s offense was mostly on the ground as the Panthers rushed for 228 yards, while gaining 49 through the air.

Richards (69 yards), Goodwin (67) and McKeown (53) led the rushing attack.

The Panthers defense held Highland to just 60 yards on the ground, but the Cougars earned 10 of their 14 first downs through the air.

Madden led the defense with five tackles and the sack, while Christian Johnson added 4.5. Carter Crane had 3.5 tackles and an interception.

Next up

Palmyra hopes to even their record this Friday at home against South Shelby, 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the conference.

The Cardinals are coming off of a tough 38-32 loss to Centralia.

Palmyra at Highland

Friday, Oct. 8, 2021

1 2 3 4 F

Palmyra 7 7 0 6 20

Highland 12 6 0 6 24

Scoring

First Quarter

Pal: Arch 3-yd. TD run at 6:31, Smith kick, 7-0

High: Stutsman 22-yd. TD pass from Mallet at 3:11, 2-pt. try failed, 7-6

High: Stutsman 28-yd. TD pass from Mallet at 1:29, 2-pt. try failed, 7-12  

Second Quarter

Pal: McKeown 27-yd. TD run at 9:17, Smith kick, 14-12

High: Bringer 24-yd. TD pass from Mallet at 2:34, 2-pt. try failed, 14-18

Third Quarter

None

Fourth Quarter

Pal: Goodwin 1-yd. TD run at 7:06, kick no good, 20-18

High: Goehl 2-yd. TD run at 2:06, 2-pt. try failed, 20-24

CCC Standings Week 7

CCC All PF PA

Centralia 4-1 4-3 166 186

Monroe City 4-1 6-1 261 108

Brookfield 3-2 4-3 122 127

Highland 3-2 5-2 231 114

Palmyra 3-2 3-4 144 142

Macon 2-3 3-4 217 248

S. Shelby 1-4 2-5 161 232

Clark Co. 0-5 1-6 66 227

Week 7 in the CCC

Highland 24, Palmyra 20

Monroe City 58, Macon 38

Brookfield 40, Clark County 8

Centralia 38, South Shelby 32

Week 8 in the CCC

South Shelby at Palmyra

Centralia at Macon

Highland at Brookfield

Clark County at Monroe City

Class 2 District 7 Standings Week 7

Team Record Points

Maryville 3-4 44.75

Trenton 4-3 32.48

Palmyra 3-4 31.69

Brookfield 4-3 30.17

Macon 3-4 30.10

Clark County 1-6 19.25

Week 7 in Class 2, Dist. 7

Lincoln Col. Prep 27, Maryville 26

Trenton 34, Maysville 8

Week 8 in Class 2, Dist. 7

Trenton at Gallatin

Maryville at Savannah

2021 PHS Varsity 

Football Schedule

8/27 Hallsville         L 7-28, 1-1

9/3 Bowl. Gr.  L 0-45, 0-2

9/10 at Macon W 40-21, 1-2

9/17 Brook.          W 23-6, 2-2

9/24 at Monroe L 13-18, 2-3

10/1 Clark Co.    W 41-0, 3-3

10/8 at High.   L 20-24, 3-4

10/15 S. Shelby            7 p.m.

10/22 at Centralia        7 p.m.

10/29 District  TBA      7 p.m.