Sports
Maysville Wins Thriller Against Philo, 28-21
By: Nick Komjati
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Just as college football fans across the nation have anxiously awaited the Texas A&M and Alabama rematch this weekend, MVL high school football fans have waited for this highly anticipated Maysville and Philo rematch.
Like the Tide and the Aggies, the Panthers and Electrics played a game for the ages in 2012 that resulted in a 14-12 Maysville win. This year proved to be more of the same, as Maysville mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter to win, 28-21.
The Panthers entered knowing that their offense would be somewhat handicapped without the talents of running back Eli Chambers in the backfield. Even with that disadvantage, the Maysville offense didn’t blink an eye, using an up-tempo offense to assemble a 62-yard scoring drive to take an early 6-0 lead.
Philo answered, charging down the field on two scoring drives of its own in the first half, pushing the Electrics to a 14-6 lead.
But, after Philo’s second score, running back Nathan Delozier hobbled off the field with an apparent knee injury. Delozier was helped to the locker room by fellow teammates and did not return to the game.
Philo trainers said they were unable to comment on the extent of the injury, but other coaches said that the injury came by a facemask to the knee. Delozier finished with 13 carries for 91 yards in the first half.
Without Delozier on the field in the second half, Philo’s offense suffered. The Electrics and Panthers traded scores to open the second half to tie the game at 21, but the remainder of Philo’s drives resulted in two punts and an interception.
With the score tied and just under seven minutes remaining, Maysville mounted a five-minute, 72-yard drive ending in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Miller to Judd Murvine to capture the 28-21 lead.
Philo’s potential game-tying drive ended almost as soon as it began when quarterback Zak Sheridan’s pass was intercepted by Jordan Hayes of Maysville with less than two minutes to play.
Philo regained possession with 48 seconds remaining, but failed to convert on fourth down and turned the ball over to Maysville once again. The Panthers ran out the clock and record a 28-21 victory to move to 3-0 on the season.
Maysville head coach Craig Clarke said that he wanted his team to enjoy the win, but remember that they have another challenge next week. Clarke said that the 2012 and 2013 Philo contests were “both great games” where his team had to “persevere to the end” to capture a victory.
Sheridan ended with 48 yards, completing on 4-of-9 passing attempts while Maysville’s Miller finished with 129 yards on 7-of-10 completions including three touchdowns. The Electrics and Panthers combined for over 500 yards rushing, as Maysville tallied 255 yards and Philo recorded 286.
Maysville (3-0) will return home next week for a matchup with the West Muskingum Tornadoes and Philo (2-1) travels to Riverview for its second and final non-conference game of the season.