Tyler’s plunge propels Panthers to second straight win

Charles City's Andre Mason (50) provides the key block as running back Cecil Tyler muscles his way in for the winning touchdown as time expires.

Andre' Jones photo

Charles City running back Cecil Tyler didn’t get his number called a lot during Friday night’s contest at Mathews County. But when he did, he made sure it counted where it mattered the most; the scoreboard.

Tyler’s two-yard dive as time expired lifted the visiting Panthers over the host Blue Devils 38-32 in the Tidewater District contest. The victory is Charles City’s second in a row after starting off the season 0-7.

Charles City had an opportunity to deter Mathews in the early going. Facing fourth and goal at the 28 on the opening drive, Blue Devils quarterback Thurman Hudgins connected with Stuart Anderson who muscled his way for the score to give the hosts a 6-0 lead.

But the Panthers had a major offensive weapon throughout the night. Junior quarterback Mason Jefferson would lead the Panthers on a retaliation score, orchestrating a drive with a blend of runs and passes, culminating in a 12-yard completion to classmate Kyle Jones to knot the score at six apiece. The two would hook up once again on a two-yard pass in the opening moments of the second quarter, giving the visitors their first lead of the night (12-6).

But the famous quote of “for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction” applied throughout the contest. Mathews next drive resulted in Anderson rushing for four yards to even the score at 12 apiece. Charles City countered on the ground with Jefferson’s 28-yard scamper on the ground for a score, but after a short kickoff and a Panther personal foul penalty, Anderson would tote the pigskin in from 36 yards out to tie the score once again. A Tim White placement would be the difference as Mathews took a slim lead into the halftime intermission (19-18).

Most of the third quarter would proceed without offensive threats on both sides until shortly before the two-minute mark. After Charles City defensive back Brian Hicks intercepted a pass attempt in the end zone and returned it near midfield, Jefferson moved the Panthers down the field 54 yards, calling his own number from three yards out on the final play to return the lead to the visitors. He added the conversion run to stretch that lead to seven (26-19).

Mathews was content to take that deficit into the final quarter, but Jefferson had other thoughts. After a Blue Devils punt, on the first snap Jefferson would follow his blockers in front of the hosts’ sideline 65 yards, giving the Panthers a 32-19 lead heading into the final quarter.

The visitors’ defense slowed down Mathews powerful run game, forcing the hosts to burn six minutes off the clock before running back Josh Foster found his way for a touchdown (32-25). After the Panthers turned the ball over on downs just after the four-minute mark, Mathews had an opportunity to move the ball down the field. Misfortune for the hosts struck, as running back Alec Thompson fumbled the ball on the 24-yard line of the Panthers, with De’Andre Gardner of Charles City recovering it.

Charles City was forced to punt with 1:38 on the clock. Starting at their own 40, Hudgins and Anderson hooked up for a 29-yard completion. A Panther personal foul tacked on an additional 15 yards, resulting in the ball spotted at Charles City’s 16-yard line. Hudgins would connect with tight end Reggie Johnson for 14 yards to get the hosts down at the two-yard line. Two plays later, Thompson would make amends for his earlier turnover by plowing one-yard into the end zone for a score with 50 seconds remaining. White’s placement would make the scoreboard display 32 points for both the hosts and the guests.

But Jefferson would put the Panthers on his back. After a short kickoff to the Panthers 43 yard-line, Jefferson orchestrated a mad scramble on an option pass play, running up the visitors’ sideline before cutting back to the middle before being brought down at Mathews’ 27-yard line. Jefferson would connect with Jones for a 15-yard completion before orchestrating back to back runs to get down to Mathews’ two-yard line before a timeout was called by the Panthers with four seconds remaining.

Noticing the defense was spying on Jefferson, offensive coordinator Michael Logan called Tyler’s number. Lined up in the pistol formation, Jefferson handed the ball off to Tyler, who plunged over his offensive line and stretched the ball over the plane of the goal line as time expired, giving the visitors the win.

After the contest, head coach Steward Greene talked about the final play call and efforts of the Panthers, who improved to 2-7 of the year.

“Coach Logan made the play call and it was a great call,” Greene said. “The boys knew the situation of not being able to make the playoffs and we told them to finish the season.

“We told them to play with ‘Panther Pride’ and that’s what we got tonight,” the victorious coach continued. “Mason [Jefferson] gave us a phenomenal effort and our offensive line did well to provide the protection and blocking he needed and that’s what we have been looking for all year.”

Jefferson provide a unique combination of stats, rushing for 242 yards with three touchdowns while accounting for 202 yards in the air and two scores.

Charles City’s victory had a whammy effect for the Blue Devils, currently removing them from the playoff picture. The Panthers will return home next Friday to host West Point on Senior Night.

1st Quarter
M (9:44)- Anderson 28 yard pass from Hudgins (kick fail) 6-0
CC (7:07)- K. Jones 12 yard pass from Jefferson (pass fail) 6-6
2nd Quarter
CC (11:39)- K. Jones 2 yard pass from Jefferson (pass fail) 12-6
M (9:56)- Anderson 4 yard run (kick fail) 12-12
CC (6:56)- Jefferson 28 yard run (pass fail) 18-12
M (6:47)- Anderson 36 yard run (White kick) 19-18
3rd Quarter
CC (2:21)- Jefferson 3 yard run (Jefferson run) 26-19
CC (0:16)- Jefferson 65 yard run (pass fail) 32-19
4th Quarter
M (8:09)- Foster 2 yard run (run fail) 32-25
M (0:50)- Thompson 1 yard run (White kick) 32-32
CC (0:00)- Tyler 2 yard run (no attempt) 38-32

Passing (completions/attempts/yards)
CC- Jefferson 16/27/202, 2 TD, 1 int.
M- Hudgins 12/26/172, 1 TD, 2 int.; Anderson 1/2/9.

Receiving (receptions/yards)
CC- Hicks 5/93, K. Jones 7/58, 2 TD; Crawley 3/28, C. Jones 1/23.
M- Anderson 4/88, 1 TD; Willis 5/39, Johnson 3/30, Thompson 1/24.

Rushing (attempts/yards)
CC- Jefferson 27/241, 3 TD; C. Jones 9/19, Tyler 5/8, 1 TD.
M- Anderson 16/96, 2 TD; Thompson 12/61, 1 TD; Foster 7/60, 1 TD; Willis 1/28, Wright 2/9, Hudgins 6/-29.