Undefeated Panthers Bring Blue Devil Season To An End
Bud Tolbert pushes for extra yards in the tough loss against Yazoo County Friday night.
By Mack Gordon
Sports Reporter
YAZOO CITY – The Blue Devils (8-5) traveled to Yazoo City last Friday to take on the Yazoo County Panthers (12-0) in the 2nd round of the MHSAA 3A Playoffs. Yazoo County’s athleticism was too much for Water Valley, as the Panthers defeated the Blue Devils 35-7.
The Panthers got on the board first with 5:37 left in the first quarter as Kenny Gainwell snuck in from one yard out, giving Yazoo County an early 7-0 lead.
The Blue Devil defense would do a great job of containing Gainwell, who was voted Mr. Football in 3A last week, for the majority of the first quarter and most of the second. However, the Panthers would eventually strike with two touchdowns late in the second quarter and force a Water Valley safety to take a comfortable 23-0 lead into the half.
The second half was a lot like the first, Water Valley was able to move the ball down the field but were unable to put any points on the board. Yazoo County was relatively quiet early in the half before scoring twice in the final quarter.
With the two late scores by the Panthers they were able to extend their lead out to 35-7. The win advances Yazoo County to face Houston and ends Water Valley’s season.
The Blue Devils exceeded a lot of people’s expectations this season, as they were not on a lot of folk’s radar coming into the season. They advanced to the second round of the MHSAA 3A Playoffs, making them one of the top eight teams in 3A North.
Water Valley finished with a (8-5) record and second place in Region 2-3A, just one season after finishing (2-9) and missing the playoffs. The Blue Devils return the majority of their starters for next year, and should be one of the favorites to win 3A in 2018.
