It took four quarters, overtime, and one final defensive stand, but the Pana Panthers found a way to come out on top in a dramatic battle against the Piasa Southwestern Birds.
After the two teams finished regulation locked at 12-12, Pana delivered on both sides of the football in overtime. Cayden Durbin powered his way into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown, Carder Burris converted the extra point, and Tucker Beyers sealed the Panthers’ victory with an interception on Piasa’s ensuing possession.
The back-and-forth contest began with Pana striking first. With 3:38 remaining in the opening quarter, Jax Czaikowski broke through the Piasa defense for a rushing touchdown to put the Panthers on the board.
Pana’s defense then created an opportunity of its own, recovering a Piasa fumble with 6:20 showing on the clock. But the Birds responded later in the first quarter when quarterback Carter Watson connected with Jeff Bagley for a touchdown pass with 2:32 remaining.
Piasa continued to apply pressure as running back Lucas Coggins found the end zone on the ground, giving the Birds a six-point advantage.
The Panthers needed an answer before halftime, and Durbin provided it.
With 3:19 remaining in the second quarter, Durbin punched in a rushing touchdown to pull Pana even at 12-12. Neither side could create separation from there, setting the stage for a tense second half.
The Panthers faced another potentially costly moment early in the fourth quarter when the ball came loose, but Newt Campbell recovered the Pana fumble with 10:12 remaining to preserve the possession.
As regulation wound down, Czaikowski delivered one of the biggest plays of the night. Facing fourth-and-1, he broke free for a 30-yard run that moved Pana into the red zone. Despite the late push, the Panthers and Birds remained deadlocked at 12, sending the game to overtime.
Pana wasted little time making its move in the extra period.
Quarterback Ryker Spracklen found Derrick Ambrose through the air for a 17-yard completion, moving the Panthers all the way down to the Piasa 3-yard line. From there, Pana turned to Durbin, who finished the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the night.
Burris followed by converting the extra point, a kick that would prove critical.
Piasa wasn’t finished.
On the Birds’ overtime possession, Watson connected with Connor Wood for a touchdown, giving Piasa an opportunity to answer Pana’s score and keep its hopes alive.
But the Panthers’ defense had the final say.
Beyers came away with the game-clinching interception, bringing an emotional overtime battle to an end and setting off a Pana celebration.
For the Panthers, the victory was a complete-team effort. Czaikowski provided a first-quarter touchdown and the crucial fourth-and-1 conversion late in regulation. Durbin accounted for two rushing touchdowns, including the overtime winner. Spracklen and Ambrose connected for one of Pana’s biggest passes of the night, while Burris delivered the decisive extra point.
And when Pana needed one final play from its defense, Beyers provided it.
Piasa pushed the Panthers throughout the night behind Watson and an offense that answered nearly every Pana score. Watson threw touchdown passes to Bagley and Wood, while Coggins added a rushing score as the Birds took Pana all the way into overtime.
In a game that remained undecided until its final snap, however, it was Pana that made the last play.
The Panthers walked away with a hard-earned overtime victory, using Durbin’s go-ahead touchdown, Burris’ extra point and Beyers’ game-sealing interception to finish off a memorable night of football.