Panthers fall short

When Mark Mariakis and his staff review video of Friday night's 17-14 Georgia Class AAA playoff loss to Flowery Branch, they will see a Ridgeland football team that executed its game plan to near perfection.

The Panthers controlled the clock at Chattanooga's Finley Stadium nearly 2-to-1 over the Falcons and outgained them 319-265. Defensively, Ridgeland allowed only 104 yards passing to one of the state's most prolific quarterbacks, Conner Shaw, and did not allow a play of more than 18 yards.

However, a blocked punt recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, nine penalties and two long, time-consuming drives that came up empty doomed the Panthers (9-2). Even without seeing the tape, Mariakis knew all too well what led to the loss to the Region 7 No. 4 seed for the second consecutive season.

"We made too many mistakes to beat a team like that, but this team never gave up, and they haven't all year," Mariakis said. "It always hurts to move the ball like that and not get any points. We did exactly what we wanted to do, which was keep the ball out of their hands. But you have to put points on the board."

Ridgeland's first drive was a portent of things to come. Following a 66-yard Will Monday punt for Flowery Branch (8-3), Ridgeland methodically moved from its own 8, using hard running from Josh Weller and Devin Bowman to put together five first downs. However, the drive stalled at the Falcons' 38 and the Panthers punted with just 25 seconds to play in the first quarter.

The Falcons, with Shaw completing five of seven passes, put together their own long drive, reaching the Ridgeland 10 before having to settle for a 27-yard field goal. Moments later it became 10-0 when Billy Thompson blocked a Jamie Wilbanks punt deep in Ridgeland territory, with teammate Corey Sanderson falling on it in the end zone.

"We just wanted to put pressure on them, but we didn't know where it was going to come from," Flowery Branch coach Lee Shaw said. "We felt that maybe they were getting the kicks off a little slow and we wanted to put pressure on them."

Ridgeland responded three plays later on a critical third-and-7 when Deonte Marsh cut right off right tackle, avoided two tacklers and, using several strong downfield blocks, raced 77 yards for a touchdown and a 10-7 deficit at halftime.

The Panthers took the second-half kickoff and, just as they had in the first half, began moving. A Marsh 15-yard run and a Dominique Wilkins 21-yard pass to Marsh moved the ball to the Falcons' 26. The drive reached the 6, but Bowman and Weller were stopped for no gains and Mariakis settled for a field goal. Nathan Courtney's kick was wide right, ending the 16-play drive on a sour note.

Flowery Branch seized momentum and Coach Shaw decided to pound big sophomore tailback Imani Cross right at the Panthers. He ripped off runs of 18 and 13 yards as the Falcons marched to the Ridgeland 4 as the third quarter ended. The Panthers, though, stuffed quarterback Shaw on a fourth-and-inches sneak, with Josh Robertson throwing him down at the 4.

Ridgeland couldn't move the ball, and the Falcons didn't let their next drive fall short. This time, on third-and-goal from the 3, Shaw hit Rodney Young on a quick flanker screen and he walked into the end zone.

Again, though, Ridgeland responded as Marsh took a short pass from Wilkins and weaved his way 67 yards for a touchdown with 5:42 left. The Panthers did not get the ball again, however, as Cross (113 yards on 25 carries) and Shaw ate up the clock.

"That's a good football team," Mariakis said. "They didn't go to the finals last year for no reason. It's like I told the kids, don't let the heartache of this loss ruin what you've accomplished."

Lee Shaw was equally complimentary of the Panthers.

"You don't win that region and beat Carrollton like they did and not be a good football team," he said. "I felt like it was going to go down to the wire like it did last year, and we were fortunate to come out on top again."

Marsh led the Panthers with 98 yards rushing and 88 receiving on two catches.