The visiting Wolfe City Wolves used a series of timely big plays to down the Alba-Golden Panthers by a 27-20 score last Friday. 

The Panthers played two distinctly-different games in the first and second halves. They yielded nearly 200 yards to the visitors in the first half and generated just shy of 100 yards themselves. However, in the second stanza Alba-Golden reversed the yardage trends, scored three times and held the momentum throughout. 

It was one of those games whereby all Panthers fans wished for just one more possession. 

The match-up was an intensely physical game, by far the most physical yet of the season. 

After Alba-Golden picked up two quick first downs in the opening possession, the drive stalled on the Wolfe City 40-yard line. A fake punt attempt then went awry and the visitors took over at midfield. 

On a fourth-and-2 the Wolves broke through the stacked line and raced 50-yards for the opening score. 

Alba-Golden then ground out three first downs before stalling again near the Wolfe City 40. A great punt by Blake Weissert was downed by Nick Hallman at the Wolves 1-yard line. 

A quarterback sweep and a quarterback option took Wolfe City out of danger. Great stops on successive downs by Panthers Erin Hubbard, Jason Langston and Jerry Skinner killed the drive.

Once again, the Panthers drive stalled just inside Wolves territory. Alba-Golden turned the ball over on downs on a fourth-and-1. 

Wolfe City hit a post route for 36 yards, which definitely swung the momentum to the visitors. They scored to take a 15-0 edge with 2:35 left in the half.

The Panthers drove through midfield. On a fourth-and-12, Weissert appeared to connect with a Panther wide-out running free behind the Wolves secondary. The ball glanced off the receiver’s hands. It was an impactful play in the game. 

Wolfe City took over with only seconds to play in the half.  A Wolves receiver got behind the coverage and for a long gain and put the visitors at the Alba-Golden 2-yard line. They scored as time expired and took a 21-0 lead into the locker room. 

Alba-Golden came out and fairly dominated the second half. They scored on their opening possession – going 61 yards behind the power of Shawn Gaskill. Glen Hartley carried the ball over the line for the touchdown from one yard out. 

The Panthers forced a Wolfe City punt and were on the move again.  On the second play of the drive, Skinner turned upfield after taking a pass from Weissert and raced down the sideline for a 75-yard score. A clipping penalty, however nullified the score. 

Alba-Golden was undeterred. They drove the ball 50 yards, down to the Wolfe City 18, when the ball was fumbled. It was a costly error.  

On the ensuing play, Wolfe City connected on a wide receiver screen for a long gain down to the Panthers’ 34-yard line. Hallman, who ran down the receiver, prevented the score. Three plays later, Wolfe City did score on a quarterback draw. 

The tally was 27-7 with 10:51 to play. The Panthers were just getting warmed up. They scored on two of their last three possessions. 

The first drive was highlighted by a 43-yard toss from Weissert to Michael Gaskill. Hartley then reached the end zone around the left edge.

A big defensive stand – with great stops by Ethan Thorn, Dodge Gains, Ethan Salinas, Weissert and the Gaskill brothers – forced a punt. 

The Panthers never got untracked in the ensuing possession and likewise punted the ball away. 

Desperately needing possession, a Jason Langston fourth-down sack gained the ball back for the home side. The Panthers moved 51 yards in seven plays with Weissert scoring on a great scramble.

There was just not enough time. Wolfe City ran out the last minute of play to take home the win.

Alba-Golden travels to Celeste Friday looking for that initial district victory.