Panthers puzzle Pickens for 2-0 victory

Marengo coach Eberne Myrthil struggled to find the words to describe it as he drove home Friday night. He was just a few hours removed from what he would term as maybe “the most physical game I’ve ever been a part of as a head coach.”

Perhaps the best description of the whole night was the picture of the scoreboard that he would later post on Facebook. The clock was down to 0.0 at Woodrow “Bear” Campbell Field in Dixon’s Mills. The score read 2-0 in favor of the home team.

“We were mirror images of each other,” Myrthil said, noting the drastic stylistic change in the team that finished as Class 1A runner-up a season ago. “They’re not spread anymore. They’re physical. It was like playing ourselves.”

Marengo took the lead with about five minutes to go in the game and the Tornados punting out of their own end zone. Myrthil sent the house on a punt block attempt. The ball ended up out of the back of the end zone. Team safety. Marengo 2, Pickens County 0. And a game of keep-away ensued.

“I was proud of my guys. The defense kept making stops,” Myrthil said. “I told my guys this is probably the team that is coming out of the North in 1A.”

The most exciting play of the night was erased from official existence as Marengo returned an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter only to have it negated by a blocking infraction. The stalemate ensued.

The offensive numbers proved sparse. Roosevelt Thompson lead the Pantehrs with 57 yards on seven rushing attempts. Alphonzo Lewis added 47 on 15 carries while Phelix Hosea had 45 on 10 carries.

A cast of characters contributed big defensive nights in the victory. Ronald Bouler finished with 14 tackles and a sack. Nathan Norwood had 12 tackles. Curtis Autery contributed 10 tackles and a sack. Phillip Hosea notched 10 tackles and two sacks. Clarence Tolbert add 2 sacks.

Marengo (1-0) hosts Southern Choctaw next Friday night.