Play-off hopes still alive for one more week

Timothy L. Hale
CHSR Editor & Publisher

Chapel Hill's Johnathan Parks sweeps around the right side against Lovejoy on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. Trailing on the play is Trent White. (Alan Cordrey/Chapel Hill Sports Report)

HAMPTON, Ga. – If Lovejoy was looking to pull off an upset, they almost accomplished that tonight against visiting Chapel Hill.

Despite the last quarter push by Lovejoy, Chapel Hill held on to a 20-13 win keeping their post-season play-off hopes alive for one more week.

With 6:14 left in the fourth quarter, the Panthers (6-3, 5-3) had a comfortable 20-0 lead.

But the Wildcats (3-6, 3-5) found success on short and medium passes to the flat and up the middle late in the first half and again in the fourth quarter.

Those pass plays led to a nine yard quarterback keeper to cut the lead 20-6, the extra point attempt failed, with 4:58 left in the game.

The Panthers were forced to punt on their next possession setting up the Wildcats at their own 14. Again, those quick pass plays found openings and Lovejoy moved up to their own 38.

In the blink of an eye, the Wildcats scored on a 62 yard pass play, converted the extra point kick to cut into the lead 20-13 with 2:24 left in the game.

On the ensuing on-side kick-off, the ball bounced off a Panther defender but senior Jordan Drake leapt up and secured the ball at the Panther 49.

Chapel Hill's Trent White (10) prepares to throw a stiff arm against Lovejoy defenders on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. (Alan Cordrey/Chapel Hill Sports Report)

The Panthers were faced with a 3^rd down play which fell just short. But, thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct call against the Wildcats, the Panthers retained possession with an automatic first down. From there, it was a matter of running out the clock to claim the win.

In the first quarter, both teams swapped punts twice apiece before the Panthers set-up their first scoring drive. That drive ended with a James Harris 27 yard field goal with 1:27 in the first quarter.

The Panthers next scoring drive started after the Wildcats punted the ball down to the Chapel Hill 10, aided by a block in the back by the Panthers.

The drive was capped off with a one yard run by Derrick Parker, Harris converted the point after kick and the Panthers eased out to a 10-0 lead at 8:09 in the second.

Lovejoy had their next drive negated with Chapel Hill’s Andre Dawson intercepted a pass at the Panther 33, returning it to the 36. Unable to move the ball, the Panthers punted to the Lovejoy 43 with 2:50 left in the half.

With 10 ticks left before the half, Lovejoy attempted a 37 yard field goal which fell short. That left the score 10-0 at the half in favor of the Panthers.

In the third quarter, the Panthers attempted to convert 4^th and 2 at the Wildcat 19. Unfortunately, the attempt was stuffed by the Wildcat defense.

Chapel Hill's Tim Potate (35) and Michael Goodnight (24) swarm in on a Lovejoy ball carrier on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. (Alan Cordrey/Chapel Hill Sports Report)

After a Wildcat punt on their next possession, the Panthers controlled the ball through the rest of the third quarter.

The Panthers started the fourth quarter with 1^st and 10 at the Wildcats’ 33. Chapel Hill systematically moved the ball down to inside the 20.

At that point, Chapel Hill head coach Chris Parker’s riverboat gambler coaching style showed through as he called for a fake field goal. Trent White pulled up from the holder position and rolled out to his right, finding Dantavious Jeffrey open near the Chapel Hill sideline. Jeffrey was forced out of bounds at the Lovejoy five, setting up a new set of downs.

Mario Cannon capped off the drive, bouncing off the left side from five yards out. Harris again converted the extra point to give the Panthers a 17-0 lead with 9:32 remaining in the game.

Thanks to Harris’ third of four kick-off touchbacks of the night, the Wildcats set up shop at their own 20.

The Panther defense stiffened and soon the Wildcats were faced with fourth and a mile inside the 15. The ball sailed over the punters head and was recovered at the Lovejoy 7.

Chapel Hill was forced to settle for a Harris 24 yard field goal with 6:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Panthers a 20-0 lead before Lovejoy started their late-game charge.

Next week, the Panthers travel to Westlake (7-2, 7-1) for the final regular season Region 4-AAAAA contest. Westlake needed a field goal in overtime tonight to defeat Pebblebrook, 26-23.

If Chapel Hill defeats Westlake, the Panthers will advance to the play-offs. A loss will mean they will need help from Mundy’s Mill (1-8, 1-7) to defeat Pebblebrook (5-4, 4-4) next week. Pebblebrook holds the tie-breaker over Chapel Hill due to their 20-17 win over Chapel Hill earlier this year.