By By Jamey Lanier/Special to The Star
Sept. 15, 2001
QUITMAN The Quitman Panthers lost a heartbreaker to the Greene County Wildcats 18-13 Friday night.
In a game that was in doubt until the last 10 seconds of the game, Quitman couldn't take advantage of early Greene County miscue.
The Panthers saw their final chances end when a Jonathan Russell to Lamarcus Anderson pass play fell short of the first down marker with just two-seconds remaining in the game.
Things started out good for the Panthers when Greene County quarterback Chuck Ross fumbled on the third play of the game and Fred Carter pounced on the ball setting Quitman up deep in Wildcat territory. The Panthers could only manage one yard, forcing Quitman to send in the kicking team to attempt a 41-yard field goal try. The snap from center was off line and holder Roderick Laphand found Evan Pickens for a 23-yard scoring play. After the PAT was no good, Quitman led 6-0 with 8:37 to play in the first quarter.
Greene County got on the board early in the second quarter when Ross hit Lance Moore for a 10-yard scoring play on fourth-and-nine, capping a seven-play, 76-yard drive. Laphand blocked the PAT to leave the score tied at 6-6 with 10:26 remaining in the first half.
The Panther defense kept Greene County from doing more damage when Quitman fumbled the ensuing kick, setting The Wildcats up at the Quitman 33-yard line. The drive, however, was stopped when Marcus McCormick intercepted a Ross pass in the end zone.
Quitman let another opportunity slip away three plays later when the Wildcats recovered a Panther fumble to kill the drive.
Greene County took the ball and marched 64 yards on eight plays, with Ross taking it in from one-yard out. The try for two was stopped holding the score at 12-6 with 4:18 left in the second quarter.
After another Greene County touchdown late in the game, Quitman started moving the ball when Jonathan Russell completed a 30-yard touchdown pass. The kick was good narrowing the gap to 18-13 with just 29-seconds remaining.
The onside kick was recovered by the Panthers at the Wildcat 44, but Greene County held Quitman and forced them to turn the ball over on downs to end the Panthers hope.
McCormick led Quitman, who travels to South Jones next week, with 97-all purpose yards.