Panthers Rally Past Dansville in Season Finale
The Stockbridge football team closed out the 2021 season by rallying for two fourth quarter touchdowns and defeating the visiting Dansville Aggies 20-14 Friday night.
The win on Senior Night lifted the Panthers to a final overall record of 4-5 on the season and played spoiler to any playoff chances that Dansville had in making the Division 8 playoffs. The four wins is the most for the Panthers since 2016 when 5-5 overall.
Dansville took an early 7-0 lead with a TD pass in the first quarter.
The Panthers answered with a 23-yard scoring pass from Drew Philipp to Jeremy Pilch to cut the lead to 7-6 at the half.
The Aggies would score on a touchdown run in the third quarter to extend the lead to 14-6 and set up the exciting fourth quarter.
Dansville drove to the Panthers 12-yard line, but was called for a 15-yard chop blocking penalty to move the ball back. Eddie Gruber broke up a reverse and made a tackle for an 8-yard loss to make it 2nd and 28.
The Panthers forced a punt and took over at their own 20 with just over 10 minutes left.
Stockbridge began to drive, but faced a 2nd and 18 when Dansville committed a facemask penalty. Two plays later Philipp hit Riley Kennedy with a 10-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-12 with 5:40 left in the 4th.
The Panther defense would hold and force another Aggie punt and take over at their own 20 with 2:58 left.
After two incomplete passes, Philipp hit Kennedy with a screen pass and he broke free for 60 yards to the Aggie 20.
On third and one, Philipp dropped back to pass and eluded the rush and rolled right and hit Kennedy with an 11-yard scoring pass with 1:13 left. Philipp passed to Zach Millerfor the two-point conversion to make it 20-14.
Dansville was called for unsportmanlike conduct after the touchdown so the Panthers kicked from the 45 and the Aggies would take over at their own 20.
The Aggies would drive to the Panthers 32, but a desperation pass was intercepted by the Panthers Daniel Mahler to seal the win for the Panthers.
Philipp returned to action after missing five games due to injury and finished 10-15 passing for 171 yards and three touchdowns.
Kennedy had another huge game for the Panthers with 124 yards rushing on 13 carries and caught four passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Pilch caught five passes for 71 yards and one score and rushed for 32 yards on four carries.
Pilch and Drew Robinson led the defense with six tackles each, while Kennedy had five and Dom Hamlett four. Robinson added an interception for the Panther defense.
