FOOTBALL: Late interception lifts Hornets over Panthers
With an effort by their defense keeping their hopes of winning alive for most of the night, Pinckneyville had a chance to tie or take the lead late in the fourth quarter at Nashville's 10 yard line, but the Hornets picked off a pass at their own 5 to secure a 13-6 victory on homecoming night.
The win means the Hornets will have a shot at the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Mississippi Division championship next Friday night when they travel to Du Quoin.
As for the Panthers, the loss means Pinckneyville will need wins in both of their remaining games (Carterville, Dupo) to lock in a playoff berth with six victories.
"(Nashville is) state-ranked and they're right at the top of the conference, they can win it," said PCHS head coach Todd Thomas. "We're right there. We'll come out and we'll prepare to beat Carterville. There's a lot of parity, we've just got to shore up the mistakes, sustain drives, and put the ball in the end zone so our defense isn't on the field for so long."
"We've got two more, if we get one more we've got a winning season, if we get two more we've got a shot at the playoffs. That's where our focus will be, just staying positive."
The first half of the game was all Hornets. Pinckneyville failed to set foot inside their opponent's red zone, missing a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter on their only trip to Nashville's 20.
The Hornets, however, made good on their first scoring drive after going 63 yards on 14 plays, the bulk of the distance being covered on the ground. Hunter Schultze, who finished the game with 72 yards on 19 carries, punched it into the end zone from a yard out on fourth down to give Nashville the lead with 3:17 to go in the opening quarter.
After Pinckneyville's missed field goal, the Hornets got a big pass play from quarterback Andrew Kash to tight end Royce Newman for a 51-yard gain down to the Panthers' 2. Kyle Schnitker took it in a play later for the touchdown, and after a missed extra point, Nashville had a 13-0 lead that stood until the fourth quarter.
"We sure didn't (play well) in the first half," Thomas said, "and that was the difference. When they're able to grind out three or four yards in that offense - and that's what it's built around - when you get behind, and when they've got the ball and they run the clock out it's tough."
Sam Simpson recovered a fumble for the Panthers at Nashville's 48 yard line with 11:54 to play in the ball game, and finally, Pinckneyville's offense started clicking.
Caulden Lazenby broke a 33-yard run down to the 15, and three plays later, quarterback Clayton Houghland ran a keeper up the middle for a 12-yard touchdown to keep PCHS in it down 13-6.
Pinckneyville's defense then held and forced a punt by the Hornets, and the Panthers took over on their own 7 yard line with 7:26 to play needing a touchdown.
"I thought we got more physical as the game went on," said Thomas. "I thought our linebackers really played downhill in the second half. The stop down there was big. Hats off to them and coach (Skip) Heninger. I thought we had a good scheme against them, we just came up a little short."
Alex Howard carried the load for PCHS on their final drive, taking 7 carries and chewing up big chunks of yardage on most of them. Pinckneyville had a first-and-ten at the Hornets' 17-yard line with 4:20 to play, and a third-and-three from the 10 moments later, but Howard was stuffed for a loss to bring up fourth-and-five.
On fourth down, Houghland's pass was tipped and intercepted by Ethan Reid near the Hornets' 5-yard line, and Nashville then picked up a pair of first downs to help run out the rest of the game clock.
"I thought we had a good play called, we just didn't get the job done," Thomas said. "It was a run-pass option, we didn't get to the perimeter. We liked our chances running a ten-yard out, we just didn't get there."
Howard ended the game with 68 yards on 14 carries, Lazenby had 62 yards on just 4 attempts. Houghland (4-27) and Dalton Peradotto (4-1) also had carries at Nashville.
Houghland completed just 4-of-13 throws, connecting with Lazenby (2-25) and Dylan Carns (2-10).
Nashville gained 15 first downs in the game while the Panthers had only 8. The Hornets out-gained PCHS in total yardage 328-193.
Pinckneyville (4-3, 1-3) will host Carterville (4-3, 3-1) in week eight.