Pinewood’s visit to Colleton Prep in Walterboro on Sept. 4 began very much to the visitors’ liking – until the flag hit the ground.
Damien Simmons latched onto the opening kick-off and hustled his way 70 yards into the Promised Land.
The celebration was quickly cut short with a holding call on the Panthers.
After a strong first half, Pinewood was pushed to the limit in the second half by a more than game Warhawk team and just managed to hang on for a slim 21-20 victory, in overtime.
The victory ups the Panther’s record to 1-1 while Colleton drops to 2-1.
After the first TD was nullified, the Panthers went to work. They moved the ball reasonably well during the first half and were able to score in each of the first two quarters.
The first score was set up by a Bruce Haynes to Michael Pendley pass for 12 yards on second-and-17. Simmons romped for 23 yards on the ensuing play to put the Panthers up 6-0. Thomas Ferro added the PAT.
The Panther defense kept the home team away from the end zone for the first half although the Warhawk’s dangerous and remarkably quick running back, Parker Headley, showed signs of what was to come later.
With 1:25 left in the half, Simmons scored on a four-yard run. Ferro’s PAT put the score at 14-0 in favor of the visitors at the break.
The second half belonged to the home team. Headley jitterbugged his way into the end zone on a 19-yard run for Colleton’s first score with 3:08 left in the third. The point after brought the Warhawks within seven at 14-7.
Toward the end of the fourth quarter things got really interesting. With 1:06 left in regulation, the Warhawks scored on a two-yard run by Headley. They then went for the two-point conversion and the win. It was successful but Colleton was called for a false start and had to settle for the kick.
On the ensuing kickoff, Colleton Prep attempted the onside kick. The ball bounced off the hands of a Pinewood player the 49 and the Warhawks recovered it. Pinewood quickly extinguished the threat with a Damien Simmons interception at the 25 and marched down the field with time draining off the clock. With less than five seconds remaining, a field goal attempt from the 20 was wide left.
On the first play of overtime, Haynes kept and scored. Ferro’s PAT was, once again, good.
Then the Warhawks had their opportunity. Pinewood’s defense held strong for three plays but on fourth-and-one, Headley blasted in. Colleton called time out and made the gutsy call to go for two and the win.
The Panther defense rose to the occasion. The last-ditch pass fell incomplete and Pinewood had their first win of the young season.
Pinewood assistant coach, Bo Reeves said, “We played a tough intense game. We have had key injuries and the younger player stepped up to beat a very good Colleton team. We are just going to get better each week.”
The Panther offense was led by Haynes, who rushed for 84 yards, including a touchdown, and threw for an additional 74. Simmons rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns and Chris Morgan added 37. Pendley caught three of Hayne’s five completions.
Ethan Gaskins had 13 tackles, including eight solo, to lead the Panther D. Damien Simmons was close behind with 11 tackles, nine of them solo. He also added an interception and deflected a pass. Cameron Fisher also had an interception.
Haynes rang in with seven tackles, five solo. Chris Morgan blocked a punt. Linemen Daniel Zuvia, Pendley and Benjamin Goodsell contributed a total of 11 tackles. Austin Morgan had three solo tackles including a fourth quarter sack.
The Panthers take on a powerful and veteran Ben Lippen team out of Columbia this week. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.