PANTHERS SEASON END WITH HEART-BREAKING LOSS

Ed Pothul December 7, 2018

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The Burton Panthers’ 2018 season came to a heart-breaking end, falling in the Region IV/2A DII final, 30-28 to Falls City.

The Panthers (10-3) thought they had kicked a game-winning 27-yard field goal on the game’s final play. However, Falls City Head Coach Britt Hart had called a time out just before the snap, forcing the Panthers to try again. The second attempt missed, sending the Beavers on to the State Semi-Finals.

The Panthers took the early lead, on Caleb Harmel’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Tristan Brantley.

Tristan Brantley pulls in a Caleb Harmel pass for the Panther's first TD of the game.

Falls City responded with a pair of touchdowns and 2-point conversions, to take a 16-7 lead into the second quarter.

The Panthers cut the lead to 16-15 at halftime, after De’Monderick Winters scored on a 10-yard run.

De'Monderick Winters dives over the goal line for Burton's second TD of the game.

The two teams would trade touchdowns in the third quarter as Falls City took a 23-15 lead, before Winters responded with a 61-yard run. The try for a two-point conversion failed, leaving the Beavers with a 23-21 lead.

De'Monderick Winters intercepts the Falls City points after attempt.

Falls City then scored once more, taking a 30-21 lead into the fourth quarter.

Burton rallied as Winters sprinted to his third touchdown of the evening with a 45-yard run. After Tristan Brantley added the extra point, drawing the Panthers to within two points, 30-28.

Falls City advances on to the State Semifinals, where they will face Mart, 59-0 winners over Grapeland.

The Burton senior class leaves with a 41-13 mark over the past four years.