By Bryant Roberts

CHULA – The No. 2 Valwood Valiants (7-2) took the short drive to Chula on Friday to take on region foe No. 3 Tiftarea Academy Panthers (8-1) for the AAA Region 3 championship.

In their last meeting, the Valiants held the Panthers scoreless, winning 41-0 last year in Hahira. But Tiftarea, rebuilding after 1-9 and 3-8 seasons, came through with a pair of second half touchdowns to down the Valiants, 28-21.

Starting with the ball first, the Panthers offense controlled more than half of the first quarter, going on a nearly seven-minute scoring drive after an 18-yard touchdown run from the Panthers quarterback on fourth down.

With the ball at their own 37-yard line, the Valiants needed only three plays to get into Panthers territory after 26 yards on the ground from Braylon Neal.

Facing 3rd-and-16 at the Panthers 43 yard line, the Valiants tied the game after a Asher Wells connected with Mason Corbett for a 43-yard catch and run. A successful Tommy Marrero PAT tied the game up 7-7 late in the first quarter.

Much like their first drive, the Panthers went on another long scoring drive, with the Tiftarea quarterback scoring his second touchdown of the game on the ground from eight yards out. The Panthers lead stayed at 6 after missing the PAT.

With the ball at their own 36, Valwood needed only two plays to take the lead after rushes of 5 and 59 Neal. Marrero made his second PAT of the night, giving the Valiants the 14-13 lead with around eight minutes to go in the half.

After allowing 13 yards on the first play of the drive, the Valiants defense forced three incompletions over the next four plays, including a breakup by Andrew Belcher on a fake punt by the Panthers.

Taking over at the Tiftarea 36, Valwood was not be able to take advantage of the short field after a penalty on the Panthers moved the ball to the TA 27. Facing a third-and-1, Asher Wells kept the ball on a QB designed run but was stopped short of the first down line. After a penalty on fourth down moved the Valiants back five yards, the offense turned the ball over after a breakup by the Panthers defender on Wells pass to Corbett.

Taking over at their own 32 yard line, the Panthers continued to keep the ball on the ground, moving the ball into Valiant territory late in the half. On second-and-9, the Valwood defense forced another stop, this time with Ayundrae Belcher intercepting.

Getting the ball to open the 3rd, the Valwood offense would keep the ball on the ground, running out the clock to take a 14-13 lead into the half.

With the ball at their own 26 to open the second half, the Valwood offense found themselves at the Panthers 4 yard line after a 70-yard run by Neal on the opening play of the drive.

Three plays later, the Valiants lead pushed the 20-13 after a touchdown catch by Kurrie from Wells. Marrero made his third PAT, pushing the lead to 21-13 early in the second half.

After an 18-yard pass, the Panthers kept the ball on the ground as they continued to drive into Valwood territory.

Following a Gavin Chambers tackle for no gain on third-and-3 at the VAL 14, the Panthers offense stayed on the field. On fourth down, the Valiants defense stopped the Panthers short, giving the ball back to the offense at their own 11.

With the eight-point lead midway through the third, Valwood offense kept the ball on the ground, moving the ball into Panthers territory over the next six plays, including rushes of 18 and 32 from Neal.

Facing third-and-14 at the Panthers’ 40, Wells looked to connect with Corbett for the 1st down but was denied after a breakup by the Panthers.

After the incompletion, the Valiants punted for the first time in the game, Eli White’s boot pinning the Panthers at their own 4.

Picking up 12 yards to start their drive, the Panthers offense would brought the score within 2 after a 84-yard touchdown pass. After the touchdown, the Panthers went for two, tying the game at 21 after a trick play.

On the next Valwood possession, the offense was unable to get anything started, being forced to punt for the second straight drive.

With the ball at their own 34, the Panthers continued to keep the ball on the ground, taking the lead on a four-play drive that saw the Panthers’ QB score his third touchdown from 9 yards out. After a successful PAT, the Panthers took a 28-21 lead with less than 10 minutes to go.

Much like their last drive, the Valiants were not able to get moving, losing four yards on the opening play of the series and only gaining two yards on second and third down. After a bad roll on the punt, the Panthers would took over at the Valwood 41.

With a seven-point lead, the Panthers continued to keep the ball away from the Valwood offense, keeping the ball on the ground for the first seven plays of their next drive. After a pass breakup by Dustin Gibbs in the end zone on third down, the Panthers attempted a field goal to try to push their lead to 10 late. During the kick, the Valiants block team gott a hand on it, keeping the Panthers’ lead at 7.

Needing a touchdown the tie the game, the Valiants took over with the ball at their own 20 late in the quarter. After losing 1 yard on first down, a Panthers penalty on second gave the Valiants a fresh set of downs at their own 34.

Neal ran for 3 on first down and Wells connected with a wide-open Kurrie for 11 yards. With the fresh set of downs, Wells would sent Andrew Belcher in motion, tossing the ball to Belcher on the jet sweep for no gain. After two incompletions on second and third, Wells would found Corbett again, this time for 21 yards. On the next play, the Panthers intercepted.

The Panthers ran the clock out to end the game.

Wells completed 5 of 13 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Corbett and Kurrie each had a TD reception, Corbett with 64 yards. Neal ran for 236 on 23 carries, scoring once.

Defensively, the Valiants got 10 tackles form Grant Moss, nine from Hudson Paylo and eight from Andrew Belcher.