PLAYOFF-BOUND

Published 8:47 pm Friday, November 8, 2024

during the varsity football game on Friday, November 8, 2024 at Panther Stadium. (Courtney Case/News-Journal) n

The Spring Hill Panthers dominated from start to finish in a playoff-clinching 45-7 victory Friday over the Pittsburg Pirates at Panther Stadium.

Spring Hill excelled in all three phases – from a special teams touchdown on the game’s opening kickoff to amassing 423 rushing yards of offense to a plus-3 margin in the turnover battle – to secure a spot in the postseason next week vs. Carthage.



Spring Hill (3-7 overall) punched its playoff ticket with a fourth-place finish and 2-3 mark in District 7-4A Division II action. Pittsburg’s season ends at 1-9 overall and 1-4 in district play.

Spring Hill had two players rush for at least 155 yards as Quinton Cutler racked up 196 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries while Trevor Allen rushed for 158 yards and two scores on 16 carries.

The Panthers got things started before most fans were settled into their damp seats when Allen returned the game’s opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown and 7-0 Spring Hill lead only 13 seconds into action.

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It was the first of three first-quarter touchdowns for Allen, who also scored on runs of 48 and 22 yards to give the Panthers a 21-0 lead late in the first quarter.

On Spring Hill’s first offensive possession of the night, the Panthers overcame a third-and-25 from their own 10-yard line when Allen got loose for a 24-yard run. A fourth-down conversion run by quarterback Travis Allen kept the drive alive, and, a few plays later, Trevor Allen burst free for a 48-yard touchdown run.

The Panthers took firm control of the game by recovering a short kick on the ensuing kickoff to set up Trevor Allen for a 22-yard touchdown advantage.

Pittsburg added a 15-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kord Johnson in the closing seconds of the opening quarter, but the Spring Hill defense shut the Pirates down from there.

In the second quarter, Spring Hill extended its lead on a 62-yard touchdown run through the middle of the Pittsburg defense by Cutler as the Panthers carried a 28-7 lead into halftime.

Travis Allen scored on a 13-yard run and Cutler added a 45-yard touchdown run in the third quarter before a 20-yard field goal from Brady Meyer capped the scoring.

In the second half, Spring Hill’s defense rose to the occasion and then some with three sacks on fourth-down attempts by Pittsburg inside Panther territory.

Pittsburg fumbled six times and the Panther defense came away with four recoveries.

Aside from a pair of 26-yard runs by Pittsburg, Spring Hill’s defensive front stuffed the Pirates all night to the tune of only 11 rushing yards on 21 other attempts.