The Daviess County football team narrowly escaped the first round of the 6A 2023 State Football Finals with a 24-21 victory over North Hardin at home on Friday night. As it has for the past several games, the Panthers’ defense was the deciding factor in the victory.
“It’s been defensive domination for the past three weeks,” Daviess County head coach Matt Brannon said. “Our defense isn’t getting the credit it deserves. Defensively, we played out of our minds tonight and held that team to 21 points. They’ve kept us in games the last three weeks.”
Brannon said they did what they had to do offensively, but won the game because of the defense, led by defensive coordinator Quadarius Wallace.
With just over three minutes left in the final frame, the Panthers maintained a 17-14 lead after an essential defensive stop and forced punt. Quarterback Luke Floyd swiftly responds by finding Russ Crowe on a slant across the end zone for a 24-14 lead and some much-needed insurance.
The Trojans responded with a swift march down the field and a touchdown pass from Jakylin Kirkland to Ronald Lunz, making it 24-21, still in Daviess County’s favor. After a penalty, North Hardin attempted an on-side kick from the Panther’s 45-yard line, but DC was able to recover it on their own 24th.
Floyd pieced together enough runs for a first down and to run the time off the clock with an extravagant scramble with under four seconds left in the game.
“I had to get it done. There were only four seconds left, and I had to get the clock to zero,” Floyd said. “I knew I had to evade those big boys in white and get down when there were zero seconds left.”
Floyd took over at quarterback in week 6, leading the Panthers to six wins and only one loss. They were only 1-4 prior, with the sole victory coming from North Hardin having to forfeit due to an ineligible player. It’s ironic because the Trojans actually thumped the Panthers that night, much different from tonight’s outcome.
“Our first half of the season wasn’t the strongest for sure,” Floyd said. “Major props to Coach O (Dalton Oliver) for calling the right plays and a big O-line running up and creating running lanes. We’re on to the next one.”
Daviess County jumped on the board first after a 40-yard field goal from Luke Hagedorn, set up by recovering a botched onside kick. The Panthers’ Crowe snatched an interception on the ensuing play, and despite a solid drive, they failed to convert a field goal in the red zone.
After several back-and-forths, Kirkland finds Shaun Boykins in the corner of the endzone to give North Hardin a 7-3 lead entering the half.
The second half started equally as slow until Floyd broke a quarterback scramble loose for a 35-yard run to the red zone. After several off-setting penalties and multiple attempts, the Panthers’ offensive line pushed Jackson Lee into the endzone for a 10-3 lead with 5:49 left in the third quarter.
After regaining possession, Daviess County fumbled it to the Trojans at the 50-yard line but quickly returned the favor with another Crowe interception. North Hardin retaliated with another pick, only for Daviess County’s Ryder Cunningham to rally off a 35-yard pick-6 with 42.1 left in the third quarter.
With Daviess County leading 17-7, Kirkland found Boykins again in the endzone to narrow their deficit to three.
The Panthers struggled to get much going in the final frame, leaning heavily on their consistent defense, until the Floyd-to-Crowe touchdown in the fourth.
Floyd finished the contest with 12 completions on 28 attempts and one touchdown on 149 yards passing. He added 22 rushing attempts for 59 yards. Jace Hunt added 55 yards receiving, while Crowe tallied 39 yards and a touchdown.
The Panthers will travel to Elizabethtown next Friday to face Central Hardin, who defeated Christian County 60-0.
