BIGELOW — The Bearden Bears intercepted four Spencer Langston passes in the second half - the last coming in the final 90 seconds - to defeat the Bigelow Panthers 21-14 in the Class 2A state playoffs Friday at Panther Stadium.
Bearden (11-1) looked to be in control with a 21-7 lead, but Langston hooked up with Daymein Choate for a 75-yard touchdown play in the fourth quarter to cut the lead in half. The Panthers then held Bearden on downs at the Bigelow 23 with about two minutes left. Langston moved Bigelow (9-3) to the Bearden 46, but Defonta Lowe intercepted Langston at the 30 and the Bears ran out the clock.
Bearden Coach Mike Cox said his Bears had not encountered a team before Friday night that threw it as much as Bigelow.
“Their line gave their QB some time to throw,” Cox said. “We had to make some adjustments, and we had some kids step up and make plays.”
One who stepped up was Lowe, who started at quarterback and safety. He had two interceptions from his safety position and rushed 32 times for 116 yards and a touchdown, and also passed for a score.
Lowe capped a 13-play drive that spanned seven minutes of the third quarter by passing to a sliding Blain Harris for a fourth-down touchdown.
That gave the Bears a two touchdown lead they kept until Langston’s long pass for a score.
Lowe’s first interception ended a possible scoring drive for Bigelow. Late in the third quarter, the Panthers faced second-and-1 at the Bearden 26. Lowe leaped and snared Langston’s screen pass for the turnover.
“We expect that kind of play from him,” Cox said. “He usually does that every week.”
Bigelow answered with a scoring drive of its own to get within seven. Langston hooked up with Justin Southerland for 23 yards to get into Bearden territory. Marcus Davie ran for 9 yards on a sweep,and Bearden was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play, moving the Panthers inside the 10. Davie took a toss left 8 yards for the touchdown, and Bearden’s lead was 14-7 at the half.
Bearden will host Danville in the semifinals next week. Bigelow’s season ends at 9-3. The Panthers were led by Langston’s 221 yards passing.
DANVILLE 35, MINERAL SPRINGS 14
DANVILLE - Sean Tyra rushed 15 times for 149 yards and Jaylon Ester scored three touchdowns as Danville (12-1) advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2002, beating Mineral Springs (10-3).
The Little Johns held the Hornets scoreless in the final 11 minutes of the second quarter and the entire second half, scoring the game’s final 21 points.
Mineral Springs running back Rashad Williams came into Friday’s game with 2,222 rushing yards, but he was held to 83 yards on 22 carries. Danville’s defense also intercepted three passes.
For the Hornets, Alex Hunter caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from Jason Ware and Ware scored on a 4-yard run.
Sports, Pages 27 on 11/27/2010