Pana defeats A-J in 3A playoffs

Host Pana scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to pull out a come-from-behind 36-29 win over Anna-Jonesboro in the second-round of the IHSA Class 3A high school footbalL playoffs Saturday, Nov. 7

“Our defense was on the field quite a lot the second half, “ A-J coach Brett Detering said. “Defensively, we didn’t make a play when we needed it.”

Leading 29-21 going into the final quarter, the wheels were about to fall off the Wildcats.

After recovering an onside kick at midfield, the host Panthers were on the move.

Pana quarterback Cody McLaughlin led the charge down field, passing and running.

“We flushed him out of the pocket and he’s got good speed and he’s elusive,” Detering said. “He made people miss in the open field.”

After an 11-play drive, McLaughlin tossed a 13-yard TD pass to Jake Cutler. McLaughlin then passed to Nick Spracklen for the conversion points to knot the game at 29-29 with 10:22 remaining in the final quarter.

The Wildcats were forced to punt on their next drive and were stopped on a fourth down play in Panther territory on their ensuing drive.

On Pana’s second play,  running back Philllip Arnold took the hand off on a double reverse and connected with Cutler on a 41-yard pass. He was tackled at A-J’s 3-yard line.

The Panthers then moved lineman Alan Handy, a 6-5, 330-pounder, to the backfield.

Handy scored the go ahead TD on the next play and Jared Sloan kicked the extra point to close out the scoring with 40 seconds remaining.

“He still had a lot of big linemen in front of him,”  Detering noted.

After an ineligible man downfield call against the Wildcats following the kickoff, quarterback J.R. Woodward completed a short pass before being intercepted to end the game.

The game didn’t start off well for the Wildcats.

After A-J’s Jordan Chamness made a good run on the opening play of the game, Woodward’s pitch to Chamness was fumbled. Panther lineman Jesse Wicks picked up the loose ball and scampered for a 25-yard TD. Sloan’s extra point kick boosted Pana to a 7-0 lead with 11:16 remaining in the first quarter.

The Wildcats averted disaster on the ensuing kickoff when Brandon Cerney fumbled following a nifty kickoff return. A-J recovered the ball near midfield.

Chamness capped a 11-play drive with a 1-yard TD run and added the conversion points on a run to boost the Wildcats to an 8-7 lead with 4:53 remaining in the opening quarter.

Following a Panther punt, A-J was on the move again.

After two plays, Woodward broke loose for a 78-yard TD run. Travis Smith’s extra point kick put A-J on top 15-7 with 1:00 remaining in the quarter.

The Panthers bounced back with a 15-play drive that was capped by a 4-yard TD run by McLaughlin. The extra point kick missed the mark and Pana pulled to 15-13 with 6:37 remaining in the first half.

Woodward scored on a 19-yard run at the end of a 7-play drive for the next Wildcat TD. Smith’s kick put A-J ahead 22-13 with 3:33 left in the first half.

The Wildcat defense stiffened and halted the Panthers on their final drive of the first half.

The Panthers opened the final quarter on a 14-play drive that was capped by Arnold’s 4-yard TD run. McLaughlin added the conversion points on a run and Pana pulled to 22-21 with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter.

After a 3-play drive, Chamness scored on a 3-yard run. Smith’s kick put the Wildcats in front for the final time 29-21 with 3:55 remaining in the third quarter.

The Panthers sealed the win with the two final quarter scores.

“We hung in there and battled,” Detering said.  “It’s unfortunate. We couldn’t make a play when we needed one.”

Pecord was noticeably injured throughout the game.

“Gabe injured his knee,” Detering said. “He was hobbled throughout the game. It kind of epitomizes our season. We’ve had to fight injuries all year. It’s a tough part of football and it’s certainly been a challenge.”

Chamness and Woodward have also been nursing injuries for most of the season.

The Wildcats have had a lot of players going both ways all season, especially the corp of seniors.

“This class of seniors has a lot of talent,” Detering said. “We don’t have a lot of kids and our defense and offense (mainly seniors) are a lot of the same people.”

A-J outrushed Pana 290 to 209 yards. Chamness led A-J's rushing attack with 131 yards in 24 carries. Woodward added 130 yards in 8 carries. Pecord had 25 yards in 4 carries.

The Wildcats finished the season at 7-4 overall. A-J has advanced to the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons.

“It’s something to be proud of,” Detering said. “It’s certainly been an enjoyable season. Hopefully, our kids will be able to step up (next season).”