Four Mountain Grove turnovers, which included a pick six, were too much for the Panthers football team to overcome in a loss to rival Cabool, 26-12. Cabool won the total yardage battle, 301-173, as they were paced by a rushing attack that featured two 100-yard rushers and 263 total yards on the ground.
The Bulldogs took advantage of an opening kick going out of bounds to set up their first offense at midfield. Two plays later, they scrambled in on Daniel Hutcheson’s 47-yard touchdown run. An extra-point kick gave Cabool a 7-0 lead just 44 seconds into the game.
After Cabool’s onside kick attempt gave the Panthers good field position, their drive ended on a fourth down fumble, which was the first of four turnovers in the game.
Cabool’s offense quickly marched the ball down inside the Panthers’ 10 but the defense held their ground.
The Bulldogs had a third down on the 2, but a delay game penalty forced them to lose five yards. An incomplete Cabool pass into the end zone forced Cabool to turn the ball over on downs.
Mountain Grove’s offense responded with a nice drive. Quarterback Tyson Elliott connected with Jase Dowden on a 12-yard pass and Trenton Bevan picked up a big 10-yard run.
The Panthers were up near midfield until a blindside block penalty was called. Bevan did have a 38-yard run to get Mountain Grove to the 7 yard line.
Three plays after Dowden dropped a sure touchdown pass in the end zone, he helped the Panthers to score on fourth down by catching a three-yard touchdown pass from Elliott. A failed extra-point kick kept the score at 7-6.
Cabool’s offense answered with a solid drive of their own. Fortunately, the Panthers defense got a big sack for a five-yard loss from Brendan Rogers. Both Hunter Means and Bryce Stenzel combined on a sack seven plays later on a 4th-and-6 at the Panthers’ 17 to stop the drive.
Cabool attempted to make one final push before halftime, but the Panthers had a couple of big knock downs from Stenzel on a pair of Bulldogs’ passes to send the game into the break.
The Bulldogs won the total yards of offense battle in the first half, 153-121.
The second half started much like the first half did for the Panthers. On the very first play, Elliott had a pass intercepted.
Wes Drew helped the defense out though with a big hit on Cabool’s quarterback to force an incomplete pass on third down.
When Cabool’s offense regained possession later in the third quarter, they took advantage. They had a big 43-yard run followed a few plays later by a 14-yard touchdown pass. A good extra-point kick gave the Bulldogs a 14-6 lead.
Mountain Grove’s offense was unable to respond as the Panthers went three-and-out.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Panthers offense began to get some breaks. There was first a roughing the passer penalty that pushed the ball inside the 30. Then Elliott had a pass that deflected in the air, but right into the running arms of Hollen Glenn, who scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion attempt failed, keeping the score at 14-12.
Cabool’s defense then picked up a tackle for a loss and a sack to end the Panthers next drive. Cabool’s offense took advantage of a poor punt and scored on a 28-yard touchdown run. The failed extra-point kick put the Bulldogs in front, 20-12 with 4:30 remaining in the game.
Two plays later, a Cabool defender jumped a route and picked off Elliott’s pass, returning it around 47 yards for a touchdown. The two-point attempt failed, giving the Bulldogs a 26-12 edge.
Things began to get a little ugly with personal foul calls and a lot of pushing and shoving near the end of the game. A late Cabool interception and another sack sealed the Panthers’ fate in the 14-point loss.
Elliott finished the game by completing 16-of-28 passes for 106 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Dowden had five catches for 35 yards and one touchdown while Glenn had three caches for 35 yards and one touchdown.
Bevan led the Panthers on the ground with 64 yards on eight carries.
