It was a blustery senior night for the Panthers as they hosted the Highlanders of Scott county in the final regular season game and Stone Memorial came out on top by a 20-7 score. This win sends the Panthers into a playoff game on Friday evening at Livingston Academy.
Stone played well on both sides of the ball and Coach Mark Wattenbarger commented, "We got a really good defensive effort from the entire unit and Dylan Griffin had a really good game, coming up with two interceptions and he ran well after catching the ball. We were able to shut down their running game and pressure their quarterback and they didn't have a sustained drive all night. Coach Zazzaro had a good game plan and the team executed it well"
Of the offense Wattenbarger said, "Dustin Dishman did a good job of controlling the game at quarterback and we had no turnovers for the first time this year." The Panthers scored first in the initial period as Kyle Miller and Larry Breeden did most of the work moving the ball with Miller scoring from three yards out to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead. Asked if the windy conditions dictated a mostly ground game Wattenbarger said, "No, but we were able to get four and five yards per carry and we felt that was the way to go. We had a lot of success with our toss sweeps."
The Panther defense continued to thwart the Highlander offense throughout the first quarter and scored again on a 58 yard pass play from Dishman to Jesse Lowe. Wattenbarger commented, "Jesse made the catch and put on a good move to make a defender miss and took it in."
Lowe's reception gave Stone a 12-0 lead that ended the first quarter.
Scott County managed a touchdown midway through the second quarter to cut the margin to 12-7 and that was the score at halftime.
After the Panthers were stopped on their initial drive in the third quarter, Chris Green hit an excellent punt into the wind that pinned the Highlanders at their 16 yard line.
Scott County then moved the ball for a first down at the 34-yard line, but here Griffin picked off the pass and returned it 54 yards to the Highlander one yard line. After a penalty moved the ball back to the 17, carries by Breeden and Blake Fish set the Panthers up with a first and goal at the three and Fish carried it in from there behind excellent blocking from the offensive line. Fish carried again for the two point conversion increasing the lead to 20-7.
Asked why Fish was used more on the offensive side of the ball Wattenbarger said, "We felt like we could move the ball between the tackles and Blake gives us a bigger and thicker ball carrier."
Scott County moved the ball downfield to the Stone 36 in the fourth period but Griffin stepped up again for his second interception of the evening returning the ball to the Panther 42 and ending the Highlander threat.
Neither team scored again and the Panthers let the clock run out as they were on the Scott County one foot line to claim the 20-7 victory.
Asked about the upcoming game at Livingston, Wattenbarger said, "We compare well with them athletically and we are very similar offensively. We will need another good outing for a win."
Game time is 7 pm Friday at Livingston.
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Walt Riches
Stone gets big win in regular season finale
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