The Cabot Panthers are the only area team moving into the second round of the 7A state playoffs. Cabot took on the Springdale Bulldogs in Springdale and after taking it to the wire, the Panthers squeaked ahead 33-32.
The night began with a 20-yard run for a Bulldog touchdown. With the extra point being good, Springdale opened a 7-0 lead. Keeping their momentum, the Bulldogs were able to momentarily hold the Panthers off.
The hold didn’t last as Panther Evan Mathys scored on a touchdown pass thrown by Maddox McCrory, from the Bulldog’s 44-yard line. The extra point was not good, leaving Cabot down, 7-6.
The Bulldogs retaliated with a touchdown run from the 25-yard line with only 2 minutes left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs extra point was good, increasing their score by seven at 14-6.
For the first six minutes of the second quarter, both teams held each other from scoring. But then Panther Aiden Tatum caught a McCrory pass from the 15-yard line to break the stalemate. With the extra point being good, the Panthers pulled close to the Bulldogs score at 14-13.
With five minutes left in the first half, Panther Anueus Arnold scored. The Panthers took the lead, 20-14, with the extra point being good.
The Bulldogs fought back. Four minutes before the quarter ended, Springdale ran in a touchdown. With the extra point being good, the Bulldogs brought the score to their favor, 21-20.
Both teams pushed one another as the clock ran down for the first half but neither were able to find the endzone. Panther Dean Heyer did secure an additional three points with a successful field goal with only 26 seconds left on the clock, securing a Panther lead for the first half.
The third quarter saw no additional scoring and ended with the Panthers in the lead at 23-21.
However, early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs pushed through the Panthers defense, scoring the first touchdown of the second half, and with the extra point being good, the score updated to 29-23, Bulldogs lead.
With nine and a half minutes left in the game, Panther Keegan Vest walked into the endzone after pushing past a pack of Bulldogs. The extra point was good and the Panthers took the lead, 30-29.
All was uneventful for the next few minutes until the Bulldogs scored a field goal, increasing their score by three points and giving the Bulldogs a two-point lead (32-30) as time began to run short.
With only 17 seconds left in the game, the Panther Heyer hit a field goal, securing them three extra points, the lead, and the win.
With a score of 33-32, the Cabot Panthers will move on to the second round of the playoffs and challenge the Bryant Hornets on Friday in Bryant.
