Panthers fall to Fair Grove in instant classic, 29-28

An instant football classic took place in Fair Grove last Friday night when the Mountain Grove Panthers took on an Eagles’ squad that finished just four points away from winning the Class 2 state championship a season ago.
The Panthers overcame an early 14-0 deficit to eventually take an 11-point lead late in the third quarter.
Unfortunately, two costly turnovers and a fourth down heave from the Eagles’ end zone helped Fair Grove rally for a 29-28 victory.
The host Eagles had all of the momentum early on in the contest as they marched 70 yards on just seven plays to go up 7-0 after their opening drive.
Mountain Grove’s offense sputtered early, but did try to convert a fake punt from their own territory.
After the measurement showed they were short, Fair Grove’s offense took over on the Panthers’ 42.
The defense held their ground until an encroachment on fourth down gave the Eagles some light. Five plays later, they scored on a 12-yard touchdown run. A successful extra-point kick gave them a 14-0 edge early in the second quarter.
On Mountain Grove’s second drive, they started to successfully attack Fair Grove’s defense with their rushing attack.
The Panthers marched 68 yards on eight straight rushes, helped by a 42-yard touchdown run by Braydon Curtiss. A failed extra-point kick kept the score at 14-6.
Fair Grove responded two plays later with a 34-yard passing play to take the ball down to the Panthers’ 10.
Mountain Grove’s defense responded to the challenge and held the Eagles to a short field goal attempt, pushing their lead to 17-6.
With just 2:30 remaining in the half, Kaden Murphy’s solid kickoff return set the Panthers’ offense closer to midfield.
Brody Bevan had a big 12-yard carry to cross the 50 followed a few plays later by quarterback Aden Estep’s 31-yard scramble.
After Estep was sacked in the final 10 seconds, he quickly got his team up to the line to spike the ball and stop the clock with one second remaining from the 5.
On the next play, Estep connected with Bevan for a nine-yard touchdown pass. Estep then scored the two-point conversion to close the gap to 17-14 at halftime.
Mountain Grove’s offense received the ball first to start the second half and they took advantage of their big opportunity.
Curtiss had five carries totaling more than five yards per attempt and Estep added a 14-yard run.
The Panthers marched 60 yards on 10 plays, scoring on Eli Golden’s one-yard plunge. Dameon Martin’s extra-point kick put his team in front, 21-17.
Mountain Grove’s defense made their presence felt on the Eagles’ next drive as they held them without a first down. A shanked punt then gave the Panthers back the ball on Fair Grove’s 28.
Golden picked up a 19-yard carry and Curtiss had a nine-yard gain down to the 1. Estep would score from there, and with Martin’s kick, the Panthers led 28-17.
Unfortunately, Fair Grove responded just five plays later with a deep 45-yard touchdown pass. A failed two-point conversion kept Mountain Grove in front, 28-23.
Then on the kickoff, the Panthers fumbled the ball back to the Eagles at their own 34.
Fair Grove would take the ball inside the 20, but Mountain Grove’s defense forced them to a field goal attempt. A bad snap led to the Panthers keeping the Eagles off the scoreboard for a big stop.
Mountain Grove returned to the running game with 14 straight carries that included a fourth down conversion by Curtiss’ four-yard run.
With 6:02 remaining though, a Fair Grove defender knocked the ball lose from Estep on a scramble and recovered it on the Eagles’ 10.
The Panthers’ defense responded right away, holding Fair Grove to minus three yards through three plays. Then on fourth down, the Eagles’ quarterback was under pressure and launched a helicopter pass near midfield that fell right into the hands of a receiver who scored on a 93-yard touchdown. A failed two-point conversion kept the Eagles in front, 29-28.
With just 4:57 remaining in the game, the Panthers’ offense felt the pressure of needing to move the ball down field. They would go four-and-out. Fair Grove’s offense was able to do just enough to run out the clock, giving them the come-from-behind win.
The Eagles had 155 yards passing and 133 yards rushing for 288 total yards of offense.
Meanwhile, Mountain Grove tallied nine yards passing and 344 on the ground for 353 total yards.
Curtiss had a monster day with 28 carries for 239 yards and one touchdown.
Estep completed two passes for nine yards and one touchdown. He also had 14 carries for 60 yards and one touchdown. Golden added five carries for 33 yards and one touchdown.
Bevan tallied one carry for 12 yards and one catch for nine yards and one touchdown.