Pascagoula vs. East Central

September 6, 2008 Pascagoula 30 - East Central 27

Read Mississippi Press Story

Panthers hold off Hornets

Monday, September 08, 2008

By BILL GLENN

HURLEY — Jerrell Dallas threw for three touchdown passes and 185 yards to lead Pascagoula to a 30-27 victory over a feisty East Central here on Saturday night. The Hornets scored with 1:17 left in the game to close the gap to three points, but the Panthers recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the victory. East Central's Sam Fairley turned in a great individual performance, rushing for 224 yards on 16 carries. He scored on touchdown runs of 81, 34 and 3 yards. The Hornets led early and maintained a 14-10 lead with three seconds left in the first half. But the Panthers used a couple of surprise plays to shift the momentum of the game. On the last play of the first half, Pascagoula ran a fake field goal and Timmy Johnson connected with Antoine Thornton for a 13-yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers a 17-14 lead at halftime. The Panthers then surprised the Hornets with an onsides kick to start the second half. Pascagoula recovered it and on the first play, Dallas connected with Thornton on a 27-yard pass making the score 24-14. After Fairley's 81-yard touchdown, Dallas hit Travis Bradley with a circus catch touchdown and Pascagoula led 30-21. Bradley also hit a 43-yard field goal earlier in the game. Pascagoula (2-0) now travels to Dantzler Stadium for the annual battle of the cats with the Moss Point Tigers.