In a game where there were almost as many penalty flags thrown in the air as there were footballs, Panther Valley rallied for 16 points in the fourth quarter to defeat Columbia Montour Vo-Tech, 28-22.

Twenty yards in penalties by the Rams assisted the Panthers’ first possession scoring drive that resulted in a 17-yard cutback run against the grain touchdown by Elias Tavares.

Following a CMVT punt, Panther Valley held possession for 19 straight offensive plays in a drive plagued by penalties. The 73-yard drive that began in the first quarter and ended half way through the second period. It came up empty, however, when the Rams recovered a fumble on their own 11 yard line.

“We played two quarters of football tonight,” said Panther coach Scott Price. “You could say we were like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

The Rams then went on their own long drive that took 17 plays and covered 89 yards, ending in a one-yard quarterback sneak by Cole Simpler. His two-point conversion run gave CMVT an 8-6 lead at the intermission.

“Our game is winning the time of possession, eating the clock, and controlling the ball,” said Rams’ coach, Mark Varner.

Beginning on their own 33 yard line at the start of the second half, the Rams looked like they were about to take control of the game. Running back Ty Babb culminated a seven-play, 67-yard drive with a two-yard TD plunge.

“Down 14-6 midway through the third quarter, we certainly faced adversity,” said Price.

The adversity continued for Panther Valley on their ensuing drive when the Rams intercepted a pass at the PV 47-yard line.

Price made some adjustments to try to stop CMVT’s ground assault and they worked successfully.

“We were getting beat off tackle because we were bunching the middle so we spread out and threw some blitzes in the C gap,” said Price.

The Panthers tightened up the game late in the third quarter, mostly on the arm of quarterback Ethan Reis, who was selected as the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Player of the Game. The junior quarterback finished a 46-yard drive with a three-yard TD run.

“It was a grind the whole game,” said Reis. “But we came together as a team and got it done.”

Senior Rene Figueroa dazzled the home crowd with several cutbacks en route to a 27-yard touchdown that gave Panther Valley its first lead of the night at 20-14 with 9:50 to go.

Reis completed four rollout throws on the next PV drive that ended with a perfectly thrown 21-yard scoring pass to senior tight end Carter Brettle to make it 28-14.

CMVT scored in the final minute, but couldn’t get any closer.

“We fought adversity and won against a pretty good team,” said Price.

THREE TIMES A HARM ... During the Rams’ second quarter scoring drive, the Panthers’ defense was pulled offside by long counts three times on fourth downs that kept the drive alive.

BRING IT BACK ... Panther Valley had two touchdowns called back because of penalties, including a long touchdown run by Figueroa in the second quarter.

FLAG FOOTBALL ... There were a total of 18 penalties called in the game for a combined 110 yards.