Panthers drop a heartbreaker to Oglethorpe County
By TODD FORREST Sentinel Writer

Sentinel photos/Todd Forrest Luke Parker punts the ball away for the Panthers.

Owenby throws for two TD's and rushes for another

With players and coaches from the 1957 Panther football team on hand at Union County's 2007 Homecoming football game, there was an electricity in the air. It was evident in the extremely supportive, standing room only, home crowd that witnessed their Union County Panthers (1-2) rally from a 21-7 second quarter deficit, to force overtime against the visiting Patriots of Oglethorpe County (1-3). However, in an attempt to force a second overtime, the Panther extra point attempt sailed wide right to allow the Patriots to escape Blairsville with a narrow 28-27 victory.

Early on, Oglethorpe County seemed unaffected by all of the emotion surrounding the game, as they took the opening kickoff and needed less than a 90 seconds to reach the end zone, and take a 7-0 lead over the Panthers. That's when Blake Gowder answered with a quick strike of his own, scoring on a 60 yard touchdown run to knot the score at 7- 7, midway through the first quarter. The Patriots added another touchdown with just 21 seconds remaining in the first frame to take a 14-7 lead after one quarter.

Sentinel photos/Todd Forrest David Harris, Jared Arrant and the rest of the Panther defense make a tackle.

In a game that showed all the symptoms of an offensive shootout early on, turned into a battle of the defenses early in quarter number two. Neither team was able to put together any substantial drives. The first score of the quarter was a result of Oglethorpe County's defense - not offense. With just under the three minutes in the second quarter the Patriots picked off a Panther pass which set up a Patriot touchdown eleven seconds later. The Panther turnover allowed Oglethorpe County to open a 21-7 lead with 2:33 left in the first half.

It seemed the Patriots had gained control, and had neutralized the early surge the Panthers had gained from the pre-game ceremonies and homecoming festivities. It also seemed as if the Patriots had silenced the home crowd going into halftime - but that would not be the case. On the Panthers first play from scrimmage, Owenby connected with Gowder on a screen pass which Gowder took 75 yards to the house, to bring the Panthers within a touchdown at 21-14 at the 2:17 mark of quarter number two.

Oglethorpe would put together one last drive to try and put points on the board before halftime. They did manage to get inside the Union County 30 yard line during the final seconds of the half but the Panther defense kept the Patriots out of the end zone, and forced them to attempt a 42 yard field goal, which fell short and wide right. As a result, Panthers were able to dodge a bullet and get into the locker rooms still trailing by just seven.

The Panthers took the opening kickoff of the second half and put together a scoring drive that lasted almost three minutes and resulted in a 45 yard touchdown pass from Owenby to Clay McConnell. With the score knotted at 21-21, it was up to the Panther defense to shut down the Patriot offense. However, both teams dug in defensively and points became scarce in the second half.

Both defenses seemed to to adopt a "bend but don't break" style of defense as both teams were able to move the ball but once they began eying the redzone, the defense would clamp down. Oglethorpe County had an opportunity late in the third when they drove deep into Panther territory, but came up empty handed after the Union County defense held on 4th down and three on their own 25 yard line.

Union took over and the offense turned to Senior running back Chris Tanner and it's power running game. Tanner broke two big runs, right up the middle, that put the Panthers deep inside the Patriot redzone. That's when it appeared Gowder had caught his second touchdown pass of the day, with three seconds remaining in the third. Unfortunately, a penalty flag for an ineligible receiver down field, negated the touchdown and took six points off the scoreboard.

With the start of the fourth quarter and Union County switching ends of the field, the Panthers were still primed to put points on the board and take their first lead of the game. Coach Peugh's offense penetrated as deep as the six yard line but once again the defenses clamped down and the Panthers were turned away after a 23 yard field goal attempt was missed wide left with 10:12 left in the game.

Union County's finest starting field position of the second half came after the defense forced a Patriot punt with 3:26 to play and the Panthers set up shop at the 50 yard line. The offense was unable to move the chains for a first down and were forced to give the ball back to Oglethorpe but an excellent punt pinned the Patriots inside their own 15 yard line.

The "bend but don't break" defensive concept would play out one last time for the Panthers. Oglethorpe drove inside Union County territory and had a first down on the Union County 40 but a penalty backed up the Patriots and forced them into a 4th and 15 from the 45 yard line when Owenby came up with a big play on defense. The sophomore Quarterback/Defensive Back picked off a Patriot pass at the 20 and returned it 30 yards out to midfield with only one second remaining.

The Panthers' offense had one last shot but Owenby's desperation heave fell incomplete, so at the end of regulation it was all tied up at 21-21. So the still, just as energetic, standing room only home crowd would be treated to some free football.

The overtime rules for high school football in Georgia are identical to the college rules except each team begins on their opponent's 15 yard line.

Oglethorpe County would get the first shot to put points on the board during the first overtime period. The Patriot offense ran the ball right at the Panther defense - and the Panther defense held it's own. Oglethorpe was forced into a 4th down and three on the Union County 8 yard line. Oglethorpe had the option of a chip shot field goal or try and convert the first down to keep it's touchdown hopes alive. The Patriots went for the first down and once again - they ran right at the Panther defense. Initially it appeared as if Union had held but after the pile was cleared and a generous spot by the referee, it was first down, Oglethorpe. The Patriots continued to run the ball between the tackles and three plays later, they punched it in from a yard out. The extra point then made it 28-21 with Union County's shot on offense coming up.

Union came out throwing and found themselves in a 4th down and eight from the 13 yard line. That's when Owenby was looking for Gowder on the left sideline, but the pass fell incomplete because a Patriot defender was all over Gowder's back, and was flagged for interference. The penalty breathed some life into a fledgling Panther offense. That set up a first down and goal from the six yard line and on the first play following the penalty, Owenby called his own number and took a quarterback draw right up the gut for a Panther touchdown. The extra point was unsuccessful and Oglethorpe County held on to a 28-27 win.

Union County will regroup and attempt to rebound on Friday, when they travel to Madison, Ga to take on the Morgan County Bulldogs (1-2), for the Panthers' first road test of the season. Morgan County fell 14-0 to Class AAAFranklin County last Friday. Not only does Morgan County have the same record as the Panthers, both teams enter the game looking to end a two game losing skid, before sub-region play begins next week. Both teams also defeated a team from Class A in it's first game. Unlike in the Panthers' two losses, the Bulldogs have been shut out in back-to-back weeks.

The Panthers will be looking to even their record going into it's first sub-region game of the season against Fannin County on October 5th. Union County will also be looking for some revenge for the 49-7 loss that Morgan County hung on them last season. Everyone should take the trip down to Morgan County this Friday night and bring the same enthusiasm that you brought to the game last week. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.