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CHS Panthers start strong but falter against A.L. Johnson
The Eagles scored most of their points in the third quarter to crush Coffeeville 38-6, but the Panther players never gave up despite giving A.L. Johnson great field position through turnovers. The first half was a defensive struggle. A bad punt by Coffeeville gave the Eagles the ball on the Panther 35-yard line late in the first quarter. Three plays later Ronzell Henton scored from the 13 with 3:43 left in the first quarter. The twopoint conversion was no good, and the Eagles led by 6. The Panthers scored on their next drive, which began on their 13-yard line. The biggest play was a pass by quarterback Robert McRae to Eric Sellers that reached the Eagle four-yard line. Tamarous Gortman ran it from there for the TD with 1:37 left in the first quarter. The Panther two-point conversion was also no good, and the score was tied 6-6. The only other score in the first half was a safety due to a bad Panther snap on their own nineyard line with 56 seconds remaining. The Eagles led 8-6 at halftime. Despite the tough defensive play in the first half, Coffeeville gave it all away in the third quarter. A.L. Johnson's Alphonso Steele ran back a punt for a touchdown with 8:51 left in the quarter. The Eagles recovered a fumble in Panther territory, and Kendarius Fritts scored a oneyard TD with 6:50 left in the third. The problems just snowballed from there for Coffeeville. Another fumble, another oneyard Eagle touchdown by Richard McGhee. Another fumble, then a 52-yard TD run by McGhee with 3:29 left in the third. At the end of the third quarter, A.L. Johnson already had the final score in hand, 38-6. The Panthers were able to stop the bleeding through tough defense in the fourth quarter. "We were not in sync like we should be," said Panther head coach Walter Rozier. "We've got to work on offense. Our starting center was out. He should be back next week." The play of Gortman was a positive. "He played hard," Rozier said. "He gave it all he could." The Panthers will host Marengo High Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Coffeeville.
Marengo beat John Essex 19-6 last Friday night.
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