Deuce Cortner breaks up a pass to Panthers’ senior wide receiver Maxim Butler in the end zone late in the third quarter.
Outside linebacker Cedric Works steps in front of Springboro receiver Maxim Butler to make an interception in the first quarter to give Northmont the ball at its 44 yard line.
CLAYTON — As well as Northmont’s defense played in the first half Friday in its homecoming game against Springboro, it appeared as if the Thunderbolts would score a runaway victory.
The second half proved to be a different story. The Panthers started to shred Northmont’s defense to come storming back.
The Thunderbolts were clinging to a 31-24 lead after Willizhaun Yates scored on a 19 yard touchdown pass from Jacob Davis. Jay Greenberg’s kick made it a seven point ball game with 5:59 left.
Northmont led 19-3 at halftime and Calilien Grant scored on a two yard run to increase the lead 25-3 early in the third quarter.
Yates caught a 40 yard TD pass from Davis and Greenberg’s kick cut the deficit to 25-10. After a Northmont punt the Thunderbolts dodged a bullet when Deuce Cortner broke up a pass to Panthers’ senior wide receiver Maxim Butler in the end zone.
On fourth down and six Northmont got slapped with a targeting penalty to keep Springboro’s drive alive. Davis eventually scored on a quarterback keeper with 10:37 left in the game to bring the Panthers to within eight, 25-17.
With the game on the line Northmont quarterback Deuce Cortner took matters into his own hands. Northmont fell on a squib kickoff at its 30. On the first play from scrimmage Cortner kept the ball and raced 70 yards to paydirt to increase the lead to 31-17.
The snap on the point after attempt was botched and kicker Jon Warren tried to run the ball into the end zone without success. A facemask penalty on Springboro gave Warren a second chance, but the Panthers blocked the kick.
Northmont kickers failed to convert three of four extra-point kicks and a two-point conversion also failed.
Springboro put together an 80 yard drive that lasted four minutes and 23 seconds with Yates scoring on a 19 yard pass from Davis. Greenberg’s kick pulled the Panthers to within a touchdown, 31-24 with 5:59 remaining.
Northmont couldn’t move the ball on its next possession and had to punt. Springboro was also forced to punt. The Thunderbolts failed to move the ball again and punted to give the Panthers the ball at their own 13 with just 38 seconds left.
A Springboro receiver got behind the Northmont secondary with no defender within 10 yards, but Davis got chased out of the pocket and couldn’t get the ball downfield.
On fourth and four Davis was forced to scramble again and picked up a first down at the Panther’s 27 with 11 seconds left. On the next play the defense sacked Davis to end the game.
With the victory Northmont improved to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Springboro fell to 1-7 and 1-4 in conference play. Centerville remains in first place in the Greater Western Ohio Conference at 7-1 and 5-0 with Wayne second at 6-2 and 4-1.
“We played great in the first half. That’s about as good a half of defensive football that I have seen in a long time,” said Northmont coach Tony Broering. “In the second half we just weren’t playing Northmont football and we let them back in it and you can’t do that.”
Cortner, who is second in passing yardage in the conference with 1,709 with 21 TDs and 10 interceptions, had an off night with six completions in 17 attempts for 78 yards and one TD. He led the team in rushing yardage with 95 on 13 carries and three TDs.
“Every team in the GWOC is capable of beating any other team,” Broering added. “I told the kids that three or four weeks ago and that every game is going to be a one score game, and that’s what it was tonight. But we won, so we will take it. A win is a win.”
Reach Ron Nunnari by email: [email protected].
