By Bill Mynatt, Radio Voice of Powell Panther Football on AM 620 WRJZ

    After Wednesday’s practice Powell head coach Matt Lowe reminded his team that the last time a Panther football squad advanced past the second round of the playoffs was back in 1994.  Scratch that one off the list, as Powell jumped out to a 35-7 lead over Ooltewah late in the 3rd quarter on Friday, and then held off a 4th quarter rally attempt by the Owls and won going away 42-21 on Hayworth Field at Scarbro Stadium.  With the win, Powell advances on to the Class 5A quarterfinals, and will take on the surprise team of 5A, Lenoir City, at home this week with a berth in the semi-finals on the line.  
    A bold decision by Lowe to try and onside kick on the opening kickoff paid off, as Nick Hammond came up with the football, putting the Panther offense in great field position at the 50 to start the game.  Eight plays later, Dustin McPhetridge spotted Darian Logan near the left sideline of the end zone from 15 yards out.  Logan got his feet down inbounds for the score, and after Josh Neely added the extra point, Powell led 7-0, and would not trail at any point during the game.  
    The Panthers would eventually build up a 35-7 lead late in the third quarter, and then turn back a 4th quarter rally attempt by the Owls to earn the 42-21 playoff victory.  
    With the win the top ranked Panthers improve to 12-0 on the season.  Ooltewah’s first year as a 5A school ends with an 8-4 mark. 
    Just as he has for most of the season, senior running back Dy’shawn Mobley led the way with another monster night running the football.  Following the dominate blocking of his offensive line and receivers downfield, Mobley broke the 300 yard barrier for the first time in his career.  His 29 carry, 303 yard, 4 touchdown performance pushed him past the 5,000 yard mark for his career, and added to his single season rushing yardage record, as well.  It was the 8th 200 plus rushing game of his career, and the 25th time he has surpassed 100 yards on the ground in a game.  
    As dominating as entire offensive unit was in putting up 470 yards of total offense, the defense played equally well in forcing Ooltewah to try and play catch up all night long.  Powell intercepted Owl QB Bradley Stephens 3 times – one each by Landon Wright, Dylan Sweat, and Gray Bunch.  The defensive front held the Owl’s 5’10” and 235 pound bowling ball of a running back, Desmond Pittman, to just 47 yards on 16 carries, and they pressured Stephens, forcing him to throw quicker than he wanted to most of the night.  
    Lenoir City beat defending state champion Columbia Central in the first round, and then this past Friday they defeated Centennial 26-13. Both of those wins came on the road.  At 5-5 in the regular season, LC was one of the last teams in to the playoffs, but they may be one of the hottest teams left playing in 5A.  The Panthers are led by former Clinton WR/DB Camion Patrick.  Patrick transferred from Clinton to LC in the summer.  
    Game time on Friday is 7 PM.  The radio broadcast will begin at 6:30 PM on AM 620 WRJZ.  
    Other quarterfinal games in 5A:  In Quad 1, a pair of Wests – Knoxville West and Morristown West will meet in Morristown for the right to move on to the semifinals.  Knoxville West had little trouble in eliminating Sullivan South 48-21, while Morristown West turned back its arch rival, Morristown East, for the second time this season, this time by the score of 38-23.  In Quad 3, Beech and Hendersonville will meet in a regular season rematch.  Beech defeated Station Camp 22-13, while Hendersonville avenged a 35-10 regular season loss to the Green Wave of Gallatin by returning the favor on Friday, 28-7.  And in Quad 4, the game most expected to see will pit the 1 seed Henry County against the 2 seed Memphis Ridgeway.  Henry County eliminated Clarksville Northeast 30-7, while the Roadrunners dispatched Dyer County 48-13.  
    Powell-Ooltewah Statistics
Scoring
P    8:51 1st    McPhetridge to Logan 15 yard TD pass
            Neely kick
P    1:19 1st    Mobley 8 yard TD run
            Neely kick
O    5:46 2nd    Pittman 5 yard TD run
            Wishart kick
P    0:44 2nd    Mobley 1 yard TD run
            Neely kick
P    8:04 3rd    Logan 9 yard TD run
            Neely kick
P    3:06 3rd    Mobley 80 yard TD run
            Neely kick
O    10:58 4th    Stephens 14 yard TD pass to Warren
            Wishart kick
O    7:53 4th    Stephens 26 yard TD pass to Warren
            Wishart kick
P    2:02 4th    Mobley 7 yard TD run
            Neely kick
Powell            Ooltewah   
42        Score            21
63        Offensive Plays    71
20        First Downs        20
386        Rush Yards        42
84        Pass Yards        262
470        Total Yards        304
13/112    Penalties/Yards    7/51
0        Turnovers        3
27:44        TimeOfPoss        20:07
2/7        3rdDownConv    5/13

Powell Rushing
Mobley        29 for 303, 4 TDs
McPhetridge        13 for 45
Washington        3 for 29
Logan            2 for 9, 1 TD

Powell Passing
McPhetridge        2 for 6, 42 yards, 1 TD
D. Owenby        1 for 1, 42 yards

Powell Receiving
Logan            2 for 10, 1 TD
H. Owenby        1 for 42
Wood            1 for 32

Powell Kicking/Punting
Neely            6 of 6 PATs
Wood            4 punts for a 33 yard ave.
H. Owenby         1 put for 11 yards

Ooltewah Rushing
Pittman        16 for 47, 1 TD
Stephens        9 for -14
Rudwall        2 for 9

Ooltewah Passing
Stephens        19 for 38, 262 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs

Ooltewah Receiving
Creech        8 for 124
Warren        7 for 113, 2 TDs
Sealor        1 for 4
Toney         1 for 4
Pittman        1 for -1

Ooltewah Kicking/Punting
Wishart        3 for 3 PATs
Manning        5 punts for 32.5 ave.  

Photos courtesy of Eric Kennedy: