Maysville overcomes 13-point deficit taking down John Glenn in overtime
By: Andrew Bowlby
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ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) – The Chase Bowman era at Maysville began Friday with a thrilling victory. The Panthers (1-0) dug out of a double-digit halftime hole to earn a 20-19 victory over MVL-Big opponent John Glenn (0-1).
The Little Muskies won the opening coin toss of the season and elected to take the ball for their first series of the year. However, it was met with a Maysville defense that was ready. On its first set of downs, John Glenn QB Owen Edwards had his third-down pass intercepted by DB Gavin Duncan.
For the Panthers, their first offensive drive ended with a turnover as well, but instead of a pick, it was on downs. Both teams struggled to find their rhythm in the early first half, leading to multiple short drives and little offensive movement.
It wasn’t until midway through the second quarter that the game saw its first points. After a 36-yard rush by Little Muskies RB Reese Metzger that put John Glenn inside the 5-yard line, he punched it in.
On the ensuing Maysville drive, QB Kade Rock threw an interception, giving John Glenn a notable edge. Edwards fired a pass to Metzker, and 19 yards later, the Little Muskies were up 13-0.
While the Panthers did find themselves in the red zone at the end of the first half, they couldn’t find the end zone and ended the opening 24 minutes scoreless.
“We have a saying, put the ball down,” Bowman said postgame. “Which means no matter what happens, you focus on the next play.”
And that was exactly how the Panthers approached the second half.
Maysville’s opening drive of the second half was run focused and lasted 6:32. After methodically marching down the field, it ended in a touchdown on a 12-yard pass to WR Landon Iden. That drive foreshadowed what was to come from the Panthers.
The Maysville defense followed up the score with a stop on fourth down. Both teams traded possessions without success until the fourth quarter. Trailing 13-7 and with the ball, the Panthers marched the ball down the field once again. And after another long drive, RB Kohen Lewellen punched the ball in evening the game at 13.
However, the drama of the second half was far from over. Josalynn Milatovich missed the following extra point keeping the game knotted at 13.
“None of us lost confidence there, we still had full confidence in Josalynn to come in and win it,” Bowman said.
That’s just what happened. After John Glenn scored on a miraculous tip to take the lead in overtime, Maysville responded.
Lewellen scored again to tie the game, and Milatovich trotted out to attempt another extra point. And with the full confidence of her team, Milatovich made it and won the game giving the Panthers the exact belief they were searching for.
“I’ve always said there’s a huge difference in high school football between being 0-1 and 1-0,” Bowman said. “I think there’s a ton of belief right now.”
Maysville will take that belief to week two when they face Lakewood while John Glenn will search for a rebound in its home opener against Cambridge.