A defensive stalemate suddenly gave way to a late offensive explosion, and a wild finish ended with Daviess County’s Shane Riley punching in a 6-yard touchdown run that sealed a 30-27 overtime victory over Henderson County at home Friday.
The Colonels (6-2, 2-1) got the first possession in overtime but they had to settle for a 20-yard field goal. Two plays later, Riley carried in his third touchdown of the night to lift the Panthers (3-5, 2-1) to their third win in five games.
“Riley has been big for us all season and he carried that over into tonight, but where he really helps this team is with his veteran leadership,” said head coach Matt Brannon. “We are a young team and we’re constantly placing an emphasis on building a program and although he won’t return for another year, he understands that it’s bigger than him.”
————————
For a full photo gallery from the game, click here.
————————
Riley ended the night with 143 yards on 26 carries, and all three of his scores helped give the Panthers a lead. His other two touchdowns came on a 6-yard run with time expiring in the third quarter and a 12-yard carry with six minutes remaining in the game.
A huge fourth quarter by both teams started with Henderson County capping off a long drive with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Sam Elliot to Edmund Brooks, tying the game at 10-10 with 8:18 to play.
Daviess County responded with a 69-yard kickoff return by Bryson Parm, and Riley’s 12-yard run gave them a 17-10 lead with 6:00 left.
Both teams had a chance to put the game away in the closing minutes, but defenses that had been stout all night long failed to get stops when they needed them.
Facing 4th-and-long on the Panthers’ 40-yard line with only 2:35 left, the Colonels’ Elliot connected with Isaiah Fallen on a slant across the middle that he took all the way for a game-tying touchdown.
The Panthers fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, and two plays later Logan Green ran 17 yards to the end zone for 24-17 Henderson County advantage with less than two minutes remaining.
Sophomore quarterback Joe Humphreys then marched DC down the field, eventually capping the drive on his own with a 12-yard run to the outside to tie the game at 24-24 with 42 seconds on the clock.
“We are seeing a lot of growth in him as a quarterback,” Brannon said. “He’s no longer dwelling on his mistakes. He’s learning from them, and his determination is part of what allowed us to be successful tonight.”
The closing minutes were a far cry from the early goings of the game. The lone score of the first half came when Daviess County’s Carter Hoagland hit a 37-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
The Colonels tied it with a field goal in the third quarter, but a Riley touchdown run put the Panthers ahead entering the final frame.
Despite having four turnovers — something that’s plagued DC all season — they recovered to keep themselves in the back-and-forth contest.
“In the early part of our season we would have likely shut down after those turnovers, but tonight we responded. That’s growth,” Brannon said.
DC closes out district play at Apollo next week in the first game to ever be held at the new Eagle Stadium. A win would allow the Panthers to host a first-round playoff game.
“I want to keep moving forward and build on this momentum,” Brannon said. “I know we have a chance to host a playoff game, which we haven’t done in a long time.”
Stay up to date on all your local sports coverage by following @OwensboroSports on Twitter and by liking us on Facebook.
__________
2019 football coverage is presented in part by Owensboro Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
