DEMOPOLIS- The Panthers of Southside-Selma came into Demopolis’ Memorial Stadium on Friday night sitting at 4-0 with the hopes of throwing a ratchet into the championship dreams of the Demopolis High School Tigers.

The Panthers head coach brought his kids in ready to shock the world and make a statement that the Tigers could be beaten, but two words, Dustin Gracie keep the Tigers in the game and ultimately won the game rushing for three touchdowns on the night. Gracie put the rest of the Tigers on his back and raced to a 35-13 win moving the Tigers to 5-0 on the year and in complete control of the division.

The Panthers played very well causing some problems for the Tigers on both sides of the ball both offensively and defensively. Panthers’ QB #22 Ricky McConico would connect for two touchdown passes to TE #10 Jeffery Anderson on the night, thus putting an end to the four game scoreless streak of the Tigers’ defense and their leader coach Freddie Lawrence.

The Panthers started the game off with a deep pass that was picked off by #21 Vincent Jackson, the first of two on the night and left the Tigers with great field position. The Tigers’ offense came into tonight’s game a little flat and could not take advantage of the great field position.

The Panthers second time in possession of the pigskin started off very well with a pass out to Anderson and a couple runs by their big running back #32 Tony Myles Jr., but the Tiger’s defense was able to hold them on fourth down and two on the Tigers 48 yard line with 4:22 left in the first quarter.

After the Tigers’ defense stepped up, so did the offense taking the ball down the field and scoring on a 33 yard touchdown pass from #10 Devin Goodwin to #8 Colby Roberts for the six points. The PAT was good and the Tigers led 7-0 with 2:21 left in the first quarter.

The Panthers answered right back on their next possession with a pass over the middle that surprised the line backers and set Anderson off to the races for a 51 yard touchdown that ended the scoreless streak and shocked the home crowd.

With 11:52 left in the second quarter, the game started over for the hundreds of Tigers’ fans in attendance at seven all. The Tigers would not reach pay dirt again until a 5 yard run by Gracie with 0:43 seconds left in half, making the score 14-7 Demopolis.

Gracie started the second half slow out of the blocks, but he would score again on a 23 yard run with 1:50 left in the third quarter making the score 21-7 Demopolis. The Panthers would answer back with a 38-yard touchdown pass from McConico to Anderson with 11:51 left in the fourth quarter and make it a game again at 21-13.

Gracie rushed for his final touchdown on the night and put the dagger in the heart of the visiting Panthers with a 20-yard touchdown run with 3:06 left in the fourth quarter. Gracie would end the night with 16 carries for 126 yards and three touchdowns.

The Tigers added one more score before the fat lady sang on this match-up with Goodwin connecting again with Roberts on a 34 yard touchdown pass that put the final nail in the coffin and a slash in the win column for the Tigers with a final score of 35-13.

Dontrell Miller had two pass interceptions in the fourth quarter along with Jackson’s two in the first half. The Tigers play Greensboro next week for homecoming.