By J.R. TIDWELL / Editor

 

The Jemison Panthers returned to the gridiron May 17 to take on the Corner Yellow Jackets in a spring football game.

Despite the JHS defense hitting a snag early on, the teams were fairly evenly matched and remained close throughout the first half.

The Panthers received the opening kickoff. Special teams were not live for player safety. Once the kickoff was fielded, play was blown dead and the ball was automatically moved to the Jemison 35-yard line.

The Panthers failed to get much going during the opening drive and were forced to punt.

Corner made a run around the right side on its first offensive play that went 65 yards for a touchdown.

The ensuing PAT put the Yellow Jackets on top 7-0 with 9:51 remaining in the first quarter.

Jemison got things going on offense and managed to sustain a drive that ate up most of the remaining clock in the opening period.

The Panthers converted on fourth down twice to keep the drive alive, which culminated in a short touchdown run by Sasha Davison early in the second quarter.

Fullback Noah Gilliland, who was a workhorse for Jemison on the night, hit the point after to tie the game at 7-7.

The score remained the same midway through the quarter after Corner failed to hit a 46-yard field goal attempt.

However, a Panthers fumble would lead to a drive that Corner ended with a 5-yard touchdown run to regain the lead at 14-7 with just over two minutes left before halftime.

Jemison wasted no time answering the score. Quarterback Daniel Martin floated a pass aimed at receiver Jahvonn Simon down the right sideline on the Panthers’ next offensive play.

Simon caught the pass, made a lone Corner defender miss the tackle and outran everyone else to the end zone for a 65-yard score.

Gilliland was once again good on the PAT to tie the game at 14-14.

On their next possession, the Yellow Jackets got rolling on offense with a few big plays.

Corner’s quarterback found a receiver just shy of the goal line. The player appeared to catch the ball but failed to maintain possession as he went to the ground, but CHS was placed first and goal at the 5-yard line. The call was either a completed pass with a self-recovered fumble, or the drop was missed entirely.

This led to a 5-yard touchdown pass that put Corner up 21-14 with just 34.3 seconds left before halftime. This score remained at the end of the opening half.