The Alba-Golden Panthers out-conditioned the visiting Boles Hornets Friday with three fourth-quarter scores to claim a 39-18 win. The Panthers rolled up 385 yards and seized control in the final quarter.

Defenses dominated the opening quarter, as both brought old-fashioned physicality to the contest. 

The Panthers began to get untracked late in the first when quarterback Easton Campbell found Cameron Lennon on an underneath route. Lennon split the Hornet defense for 53 yards. 

Five plays later, Alba-Golden lined up in a heavy full-house formation. Layton Williams powered 10 yards through the left side to score. 

Boles answered with a long drive resulting in a field goal. Panther cornerback Gavin Parker broke up a pass in the end zone.

Alba-Golden scored on each of the next two possessions. The scoring plays were beautifully executed. 

After checking downfield, Campbell threw a pinpoint pass to a well-covered Payton Dickinson breaking from the flat to the sideline. Dickinson made the fingertip catch in stride, turned upfield and outraced the Hornet defenders for a 41-yard score. 

On the next possession Dickinson took a direct snap and ran a draw through the left side. He sliced through the Boles defense for 58 yards and a score, giving the home side a 21-3 lead with 3:35 left in the half. 

Alba-Golden had an opportunity to begin closing the door on Boles. But the visitors fought back. 

The Hornets broke a long run to the Panther 23. Only the incredible speed of Jake Hallman prevented the score, running down the Hornet back.

Earlier in the half, Luke Jones saved a touchdown tracking down a long open-field run. 

Boles scored with just over a minute to play in the half and the score stood 21-10.

The Hornets came out with renewed energy in the second half. They limited the Panthers to 20 yards, forced two turnovers and closed the margin to 21-18 as the third quarter expired. 

Alba-Golden almost kept them out of the end zone in the quarter when a crunching tackle near the goal line forced a Hornet fumble, but the Panthers gave the ball back three plays later. 

It came down to the final quarter. The Hornets looked spent, while the Panthers just revved their engines.  

The Panthers scored on drives of 55-yards, 29-yards and 63-yards. Those drives featured equally-tough running by four Panther ballcarriers and an offensive line which mustered the energy to win in the fourth quarter. 

Two Alba-Golden interceptions derailed Boles. Jones faded back while in underneath coverage to make a leaping interception, and linebacker Mason Smith cut in front of a receiver in midfield and made the pick on the run. 

Alba-Golden’s defensive front line had a stand-out game, handling a large and athletic opposing front and strong ball-carriers.

There were many solid individual contributions, such as Parker and Dickinson. However, one player again stood out – Jake Hallman. The Panther cornerback made some crushing tackles on the edge, returned two kick offs for significant yardage, saved a potential long touchdown run, scored twice and made some of the toughest yards through a strong-tackling Boles defense. He embodied the toughness of this 2023 Alba-Golden squad.

The Panthers are headed on the long trip to Fannin County Friday to take on Honey Grove.