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MANSFIELD — Even though North Crowley has a state championship to its credit, it had never won a district championship in football.
Not until Friday night that is.
The Panthers (9-1, 6-1) rallied from a 28-14 deficit to claim the District 4-5A title by defeating Mansfield Summit (8-2, 6-1) in overtime, 35-28.
After an even first half saw Summit take a 14-7 lead, North Crowley took the opening kick off 80 yards on six plays to tie the score.
Jeff Panfil hit Chris Ford for 24 yards on the drive, but Deandre Davis proved to be the workhorse, carrying three times for 54 including the touchdown from 34 yards out.
With Adi Kunalic’s kick, the Panthers tied the score after just two minutes of the second half.
After the Panther defense held the Jaguars to a quick three and out, disaster struck on the Panthers’ next two offensive series.
Forced to start from its own 1 after a Quinn Sharp punt traveled a wind-aided 80 yards, North Crowley’s Kunalic was forced to punt from its 6.
Kunalic’s line drive 50-yard punt was returned by Summit’s Ericke Parker 56 yards and the score to put the Jaguars up, 21-14.
Disaster was just around the corner again on the Panthers’ next series as well.
After picking up just two yards, the Panthers were again forced to punt, this time from their 22. As Kunlaic hit the punt, Summit’s Chad Dingus broke through for a clean block. The ball rolled back into the end zone, where Correy Brown fell on the ball for the touchdown and put North Crowley in a 14-point hole.
The Panthers still had something to prove to the defending district champions.
The Jaguars are known for their high scoring potent offense. Including overtim,e Summit had a total of six possessions in the second half and gained a total of four yards without gaining a single first down. The Panther defense was led by seniors Terryn Taylor and A.J. Prisco.
Following the blocked punt and being down, 28-14, the district championship appeared to be slipping away as the Panthers started at their own 20.
But six plays later Deandre Davis ran around left end for a 2-yard touchdown to pull North Crowley back into the game at 28-21.
The comeback looked like it was going to come up short when the Panthers were unable to move the ball on its next two possessions and had to punt the ball back to Summit with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter.
On a third-and-1, needing a couple of first downs to put the game away, Kasey Hall appeared to have the first down when a North Crowley defender stripped the ball from his hands.
Travis Hallman fell on the ball with 1:53 left in the fourth at the Jaguar 30 to set up North Crowley’s tying drive. Four plays later, Deandre Davis scored his third touchdown, Kunalic added the extra point to make it 28-28 and set up overtime.
It took just one play in overtime for the Panthers to take charge. Panfil hit Davis with a pass and Davis dove in from the two to put North Crowley on top for the first time in the game.
It was fitting that the game ended when the Jaguar’s Phillip Smith was stuffed for no gain on a fourth-and-1 to end Summit’s only possession in overtime and give the district championship to North Crowley.
North Crowley will face Midland High for bi-district Friday night at Abilene’s Shotwell stadium at 7:30 p.m.
Perry Allen is a freelance writer for the Connection
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