Panthers’ football season ends in district semifinals

Mountain Grove’s bid for another district championship game appearance came to an end last Friday night in Mt. Vernon as the Panthers’ football team was unable to overcome the Mountaineers’ momentum and the steady rain in the second half.
Tied at 14 just before halftime, Mt. Vernon intercepted a pass for a pick six to take the lead into the break and they never quite looked back in a 35-21 victory.
Early in the game, the Panthers took the fight to Mt. Vernon.
After the defense forced a quick three-and-out, the offense started their first possession at midfield.
Six plays later, they scored on Destin Unger’s five-yard touchdown run. Brayden Haughey’s extra-point kick gave Mountain Grove an early 7-0 edge.
The Mountaineers would take their next possession into Panthers ‘ territory. A big hit lodged the ball from a Mountaineers’ receiver that was recovered by Jacob Crosco on the 33.
Mountain Grove’s next drive started solid with Esep getting an 11-yard carry and a 24-yard gain.
Unfortunately, a fumble ended the drive on Mt. Vernon’s 33.
Two plays later, the Mountaineers took advantage with a 54-yard touchdown run. A good extra-point kick tied the game at 7-7.
Curtiss had a big 14-yard carry on the next possession to march the ball into Mountaineers’ territory.
The drive stalled when Estep was sacked on a 4th-and-3.
The Panthers’ defense responded though one play later when Kale Gardner made a beautiful stretch interception high into the air and returned the ball into Mt. Vernon territory.
Curtiss would score two plays later with a 30-yard touchdown run. Haughey’s kick pushed the lead to 14-7.
Late in the quarter, Mt. Vernon would convert on a 4th-and-8 to extend a drive as they had a 21-yard passing play.
They scored three plays later on a three yard touchdown run. The extra-point tied the game at 14-14 with 3:17 left in the first half.
Mountain Grove’s offense started moving the ball in the final minutes of the half when tragedy struck as Estep’s pass was intercepted  and returned 62 yards for a touchdown with 32 seconds left on the clock. An extra-point kick put Mt. Vernon up 21-14 at the break.
The Panthers’ offense opened the second half by going three-and-out.
Mt. Vernon took advantage by marching 43 yards and scoring on a six-yard touchdown run. The extra-point failed, keeping the score at 27-14.
Unger picked up a big 34-yard run on the Panthers’ next possession.
He would then score from eight yards out as a Haughey kick trimmed the lead to 27-21.
Mt. Vernon would fumble the ball away two plays later as Crosco recovered it on the Mountaineers’ 33. In fact, it was a crazy play as Mt. Vernon’s No. 33 fumbled the ball recovered by Mountain Grove’s No. 33 on the 33-yard line.
Unger added a 24-yard carry and Estep had one for 20 yards.
Mountain Grove would then turn the ball over on downs.
Mt. Vernon’s offense then had a long drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown run with 3:44 left in the game.
One last shot ended with an incomplete pass as the Mountaineers would hold on to win, setting them up for a district championship match-up this Friday in Strafford.
Mountain Grove ended the season with a 7-4 overall record and an appearance in the Class 3, District 5 semifinals.
They were also co-champions of the South Central Association (SCA) Conference, ending a 10-year conference drought.
(Editor’s Note: Due to the rain, it was difficult to tally stats this week as the notebook was getting wet.)