The Tug Valley Panthers build up a big lead and then held on late as they defeated a very game Man Hillbillies squad to pick up a 28-19 win on Friday night at Bob Brewer Stadium in Naugatuck. With the win, the Panthers maintained the top rank in Class A and kept the inside track for the top seed and home field advantage for the playoffs.
Tug Valley (9-0) got the scoring started late in the first period when Preston May found a wide open Brady Brewer down the left sideline for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Aiden Bosserman’s kick made the score 7-0.
The Panthers added to their lead in the second quarter when May found Cameron Slone on a post pattern. Slone then took the ball all the way to the end zone for a 69-yard touchdown pass. Bosserman’s kick was good to make it a 14-0 lead.
Man (3-6) finally got some momentum when Jaco Endicott recovered a blocked punt and carried it down just outside of the goal line. Two plays later, quarterback Devon Sanders kept the ball and found the end zone from 3 yards out. Briar Harvey’s kick cut Tug Valley’s lead to 14-7.
Tug Valley answered not long after with a drive culminating in a 5-yard touchdown pass from May to Bryson Elia. Bosserman’s kick made it a 21-7 game. Then, the Panthers quickly got the ball back when Cameron Slone picked off a pass. May then rolled to his right and threw a strike that hit Cameron Slone in stride for his second touchdown of the game. Bosserman’s kick made the score 28-7 at the half.
The Hillbillies immediately captured momentum in the third period when they recovered an onside kick. Man then drove the ball deep into Panther territory but a slew of penalties pushed the ball back to the 48 yard line and faced a 3rd and 41. Sanders then dropped back and threw a deep pass to Dusten Baisden who caught the ball in traffic and then darted into the end zone for the score. Man faked the PAT kick and went for a 2-point conversion, but the Panthers sniffed it out to keep a 28-13 lead.
Man continued to chip away at the lead in the fourth period when Baisden scored his second touchdown of the game on a 7-yard run. The Hillbillies tried a 2-point conversion attempt, but the Panthers held strong and kept the ball out of the end zone to keep it a two score game at 28-19.
The Hillbillies had a last chance late in the game, but Brewer intercepted the pass. The Panthers were able to run out the clock and get the huge win over a rival.
For Tug Valley, Preston May completed 17-of-34 passes for 294 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. He also carried the ball 12 times for 97 yards.
Bryson Elia had 15 carries for 67 yards. He also caught 6 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Cane Thompson had 1 carry for 3 yards.
Cameron Slone hauled in 8 catches for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns. Brady Brewer caught 1 pass for 32 yards and 1 touchdown. Ashton Davis had 1 catch for 11 yards.
Defensively, Cane Thompson led the Panthers with 14 tackles.
For the Hillbillies, Devon Sanders completed 4-of-17 passes for 62 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. He also had 4 carries for 6 yards and 1 touchdown.
Kaleb Mullins led all rushers with 21 carries for 121 yards. Dusten Baisden carried the ball 7 times for 30 yards and 1 touchdown while recording 1 catch for 48 yards and 1 touchdown. Josh Spriggs had 4 carries for 11 yards. He also caught a pass for no gain.
Trey Ward had 2 receptions for 14 yards in the loss.
Tug Valley will look for its first undefeated regular season in school history next week at Van. Meanwhile, Man will look to knock off rival Chapmanville next week.
Photos Courtesy of Karen Watts
