Panthers Reach First State Semifinals In School History With 54-50 Win

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Greenbrier sent shockwaves through the state Friday night after knocking off Little Rock Christian 54-50 in a Class 5A state quarterfinal matchup.

The Panthers’ Hunter Winston scored the last of his five touchdowns on a 3-yard run with 53 seconds left in the game to put Greenbrier up for good, which sent the home crowd at Don Jones Stadium into a frenzy. The Panthers’ Patrick Allen intercepted a pass at the Greenbrier 2 on the last play of the game. The win sends Greenbrier to Camden Fairview next Friday night for a semifinal bout.

“We’re one more step toward (Little Rock),” Greenbrier coach Randy Tribble said. “We kept believing that we were going to get a win somehow, and we did. I sure am proud of my players. Little Rock Christian has a good team and they have a good running back, Michael Dyer. He’s going to be a good back in the SEC.”

Greenbrier (9-3) overcame a 35-27 fourth-quarter deficit. After Winston intercepted a pass, Burcham pulled the Panthers closer when he connected with Tyler Hardee for an 8-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point conversion attempt failed, and the Warriors still had their lead at 35-27. Dyer, who ended up with 208 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries, scored on a 1-yard run, with 7:17 left and the PAT by Nathan Gay lifted the Warriors to a 42-27 lead.

Burcham, who went 21-of-30 for 367 yards and five touchdowns, with one interception, threw a flare out to Justin Head, the leader with seven receptions for 128 yards, took it 70 yards for a touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Reid Cone recovered a fumble at the Christian 25. Two plays later, Winston scored on a 25-yard pass completion from Burcham, with 6:41 left. Tapley’s PAT gave the Panthers a 47-42 lead Winston finished with 99 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. He also caught five passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns. Dyer put the Warriors back ahead on a 37-yard run with 4:28 to go.

“They used up their timeouts and we still had ours. That made a big difference,” Tribble said. “We kept believing and our kids showed a whole bunch of heart.”

The Panthers have been outscored 96-48 in the third quarter this season going into Friday night’s game, but the Warriors only outscored them, 14-13. Already ahead 21-14, Christian added seven, after Elliot McElhanon intercepted a pass from Burcham and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half. The Warriors’ Nathan Gay tacked on the PAT, extending the lead to 28-14.

Burcham found Winston on a screen pass during the Panthers’ ensuing possession. Winston received the short pass just beyond the line, and busted through a crease and didn’t stop until he reached pay dirt. The 49-yard touchdown reception at the 7:20 mark in the third quarter was followed by Tapley’s PAT, closing the lead to seven at 28-21.

After a 33-yard touchdown run by Dyer late in the third, Burcham hooked up with Winston on another halfback screen. After Winston caught the pass, he had nothing to worry about during his 45-yard pass reception, with 14 seconds left. After Tapley missed his second PAT of the season, the Panthers still were down eight at 35-27.

As expected the first quarter went back-and-forth, starting with Christian’s first touchdown. On fourth-and-goal from the 5, with 8:42 left in the first quarter, Dyer presence was felt through the air. The highly touted back took a pitch going to the right, but he didn’t have anywhere to run, so he pulled up and hit a wide-open Tyler Bass in the back of the end zone on the halfback pass.

Greenbrier wasted no time answering the Warriors’ first touchdown. Winston’s 2-yard touchdown run capped the Panthers’ scoring drive in a 4:08. Greenbrier’s T.J. Tapley added the PAT, knotting the game at 7.

Christian’s quarterback Jesse Stone has been an important part of the offense the past few weeks as teams, while teams have stacked the line-of-scrimmage in hopes of stopping Dyer. Stone made a decision to keep the ball on an option to Dyer on second-and-goal from the 8, and it turned out being a good choice on his touchdown run.

Not to be outdone, Greenbrier came right back down the field once it got the ball after the kickoff. A block by the Panthers’ receiver Brady Day sprung Justin Head on his 48-yard touchdown run. Burcham handed the ball to Head in motion moving from right to left. Once Head hit the corner, he nothing but turf. Tapley’s extra point tied the game at 14, with 1:26 left in the opening.

A turning point in the first half came when Trent Virden bumped into Christian’s punter with 8:28 left before intermission. The 15-yard personal foul penalty moved the ball out to the Warriors’ 45, and Christian struck 1:22 later when Dyer gave a little push for separation before hauling in an 18-yard pass reception. Greenbrier’s final drive of the half stalled at the Christian 25. The Warriors went into the locker rooms ahead 21-14.

“Greenbrier has done a heck of a job over here,” Christian coach Mike Risher said. “To see how far they’ve come in a few years is something. My hat goes off to coach Tribble and those guys.”


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