MAGNET COVE — The Magnet Cove Panthers, behind four interceptions by Austin Stringfellow, defeated Conway Christian 54-29 in Class 2A playoff action Friday night at Kenneth W. Hammons Stadium.
The Panthers led 27-7 at halftime and scored on their first four possessions of the second half to put the game away.
Stringfellow had three interceptions in the first half that led to touchdowns for the Panthers.
“He’s been our best receiver and cover corner for us all year long,” Magnet Cove Coach Ronnie Efird said.
“These kids played exactly one of the best games they’ve played all year. We had a game plan we thought was good against these guys and they executed it real great,” Efird said. “I thought turnovers would be a part of the game and it was. We got a lot of scores on turnovers.”
Stringfellow’s first interception was returned 24 yards to the Panthers’ 44. Nine plays later, quarterback Hunter Linam ran 4 yards to the end zone for a 6-0 lead with 7:16 left in the first quarter. The extra point was no good. Running back Adam Davidson ran the ball four consecutive times, covering 40 yards, to set up Linam’s touchdown run.
Conway Christian went ahead by one point on the ensuing possession when it drove 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 9-yard run by Ancil Lea with 4:10 left in the first quarter. The extra-point kick by Dylan Rodriguez hit the upright and fell through for a 7-6 Eagles lead.
After holding the Panthers on downs at the Eagles’ 10, the Eagles drove to the Panthers’ 38 before Stringfellow returned his second interception 37 yards to the Eagles’ 43. Seven plays later, Linam scored on a 2-yard run for a 14-7 lead, after Adam Efird’s two-point conversion run with 5:40 left in the first half.
On the Eagles’ fourth play of their next possession, Stringfellow ran an interception back 43 yards to the Eagles’ 37. Four plays later, Efird ran 6 yards with 2:54 left in the first half for a 21-7 lead, after Jonathon Luten’s extrapoint kick.
On Magnet Cove’s next possession, Linam threw 55 yards to Jakeb Dickey to make it 27-7 with 1:07 left in the first half.
Dale Clark had a 26-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter for a 34-7 lead. Luten added his second extra point.
Tanner Stevenson hit Jonathan Antonio with a 30-yard touchdown pass for the Eagles with 8:38 left in the third quarter to make it 34-13.
Two plays later, Linam ran 48 yards to score with 7:35 left in the third and make it 41-13 after Luten’s kick was good. Stevenson had a 9-yard scoring pass to Andrew Dather and Lea caught a two-point pass to pull Conway Christian within 41-21 with 5:39 left in the third quarter.
Jakeb Dickey caught an 18-yard pass and Efird ran 8 yards for touchdowns to close out the scoring for the Panthers, with Luten making one more extra point and the other being blocked.
Conway Christian’s last touchdown came on a 30-yard pass from Stevenson to Dather. Jonathan Antonio caught the two-point pass.
Stringfellow made his fourth interception midway through the last quarter.
Sports, Pages 27 on 11/17/2012