FOOTBALL: Do-or-die game for Panthers as Carterville visits Quillman Field

Pinckneyville came 10 yards away from the end zone on their final drive at Nashville last Friday night, a drive that, had it ended with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, would have put the Panthers in front with about three minutes to go in the ball game.

But if you ask PCHS head football coach Todd Thomas, the team didn't lose the game when that drive fell short - they lost it in the first half when they fell behind 13-0.

"You have to play four quarters of football," Thomas said after Tuesday's practice, "you can't only play two - but we know that. We have been in this situation before, and offensively we were the poorest we've been all year in the first half (against Nashville). I'm very disappointed with our effort, I thought we were very lethargic. Our defense was ok, but it was a lot better in the second half. We defended them very well once we got the offense going, but it was too late."

Defensively, the Panthers again utilized their bend-but-dont-break style to minimize Nashville's offensive firepower. The Hornets were averaging 28 points per game coming into week seven. Pinckneyville had similar success a week earlier, holding Anna-Jonesboro to just a late touchdown. The Wildcats are also averaging 28 points a game, other than their loss to the Panthers.

"I think we're sound and I think we've had some good schemes defending the last two teams," said Thomas. "Then again, there's three phases of the game and you've got to play all three of them to compete in this conference."

"We are not taking what we practice on to the field for the game. I thought we were listless and lethargic (at Nashville). When you can't run the plays that the defense is giving you, that you've worked on all week, then play calling becomes very difficult."

Despite the near miss at Nashville, the Panthers are still alive in the postseason hunt. They've been eliminated from any hopes of winning a conference championship, but with four wins in the bag and two games left to play, they've still got the opportunity to punch their ticket for the IHSA playoffs.

Even with the playoffs within reach, though, Thomas insists his focus is still keeping his team focused on playing hard, and not worrying about wins and losses.

"The last two days we've had good days of practice," Thomas said. "Again, I said it at the beginning of the season and it will stand true for the rest of the year, our goal is to play hard and stay focused for nine weeks. We did not play hard - particularly in the first half - last week, so we've got to get back on that."

It won't be easy for the Panthers to pick up win number five this week at home against Carterville. The Lions are still in the hunt to repeat as Mississippi Division champions at 3-1 in conference play, and are sitting on four wins, just like Pinckneyville.

Early-season struggles saw the Lions drop three of their first four games, including a disappointing overtime loss to Benton in week one where quarterback Blake Hicks suffered a concussion. 6'2, 265-pound guard and defensive tackle Derek Mann also missed some time with an injury. But both are back and playing well, and Carterville has won three in a row including a victory over previously-unbeaten Nashville.

"The Mann kid is back to full strength," Thomas said. "The quarterback is starting to get back in the run game after having the concussion early. It's Carterville - tradition, it's not acceptable not to make the playoffs. There's a tremendous amount of pride that goes into their program. When they had their backs against the wall, they had to come out fighting. I told our kids we're going to get their best shot. In 2010 they came in here and we beat them and cost them a conference championship, so I'm sure that coach Drust has echoed that to his kids. We're sitting here with a chance to still make the playoffs, so I expect us to give them our best shot."

As important as Hicks and Mann are to the Lions' success, Thomas pinpointed Carterville's top receiving threat as someone that's caught his eye, and someone his Panthers need to find a way to contain.

"You can not let Swalls make big plays, he is their go-to receiver," said Thomas, "and you can not let them run veer up and down the field. You have to tackle the dive back and play assignment football."

Carterville has won the last four meetings between the two teams, topping 40 points in the last three of those contests.