Despite coming up short, Magnolia probably played its best football game of the season Friday night against El Dorado.
"That was probably the best execution we've had since I've been here," second-year head Coach John Panter said following the Panthers (2-1) 21-12 loss to the Wildcats (2-1).
Panter said he was disappointed his team came up short, but "You have to understand that we played a great football team that has won four state championships in five years."
It was the Panthers' defense that set the tone when Black Hall intercepted Kawon Love's pass during the first three minutes of the game.
But the Willdcats struck first off a seven-play, 68-yard drive with 5:20 to play in the opening period. Gemetre Miller scored from the 5 and Trent Harden added the PAT to make it 7-0.
The Panthers responded with an 11-play, 55-yard drive. Justin Dockery carried the ball over from the 1, but a bad snap on the PAT attempt left the score at 7-6 with 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Magnolia did an excellent job of mixing the run and pass on the drive. It also converted twice on third down, with quarterback Kyron Sanders scrambling for 15 yards to the 2.
The Wildcats hung on to the 7-6 advantage for two more periods, while the Magnolia defense forced them to punt on three consecutive possessions.
The Panthers threatened late in the second quarter after starting a drive on their own 7.
Again, the offense used a balanced attack against the bigger El Dorado defense. Dalton Miller caught a 10-yard pass from Sanders and the quarterback scrambled for 23 yards on a third down play to keep the drive alive.
On the 14th play of the drive, Sanders' pass was intercepted by El Dorado's Chris Austin.
At the start of the final period, Miller scored again for the Wildcats on a 2-yard run to make it 14-6.
His third touchdown came with 5:28 left to make it 21-6.
The Wildcats had a tough time getting their third score, having to use 10 plays to go only 40 yards following a Magnolia fumble. They had to convert twice on third down and once on four-and-an inch.
The Panthers, behind a 26-yard pass to Antoine Jones and a 33-yarder to Devaunte Robinson, manage to score quickly.
Mykosky Jones crossed the goal line with 2:10 to play. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 21-12.
"My hat is off to our kids and the coaching staff. I thought we had our kids really ready to play. For the most part, we went out and executed on both sides of the ball," said Panter.
The coach said his team missed some opportunities, especially a "go route" down the sideline to Robinson.
"That's one thing that could have changed the game, but the main thing is I never saw any give in the eyes of our kids," explained the coach.
According to Panter, the athletes realized they "belonged and that's a big step forward for our program," he said.
Sanders was 13-of-29 passing for 170 yards and one touchdown. He threw to seven different receivers, with Antoine Jones and Mykosky Jones having three apiece.
The Panthers will open 5A-South Conference play at home Friday against the White Hall Bulldogs.
Kickoff at Panther Stadium on Don Hubbard Field is set for 7 p.m.