By Craig Brown
The McBee High School Panthers proved that they deserve the number one division 1A state rankings as they defeated the Latta High School Vikings 56-14 Friday night in Latta.
Panther running back, Jordan Fair is being recruited by several college football programs and did little to hurt his image as he unofficially rushed for over 225 yards and six touchdowns in Friday’s game.
The Viking defense stopped the Panther offense on their opening drive, but wre unable to stop them again until the fourth quarter.
Viking quarterback Colby Lee, was out due to an injury received in the Aynor game and Marc Legette took over for him. Legette has a good arm, but was off Friday night leading his receivers out of bounds on several pass attempts. Jordan Fair picked up his first touchdown on a three yard run with 6:06 left in the first quarter. Zack Middleton added the point after kick to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
Fair’s second td came with 51 seconds left in the first quarter on a 10 yard run. Middleton’s kick upped the Panther lead to 14-0. On the Vikings first possession of the second quarter Kartilus McFadden finished the short drive crossing the goal line from three yards out. Keegan Sherman added the point after kick to put the Vikings back in the game trailing 14-7.  On the Panther’s next possession, Fair outran the Latta defenders on his way to a 54 yard touchdown run with 9:10 left in the second quarter. Middleton’s kick put the Panther’s up 21-7. The Vikings were unable to get anything going on their next offensive possession, giving the ball back to the Panthers. Dashonnell Wright showed that he had some moves also as he picked up a touchdown on a 22- yard run. Middleton’s point after kick upped the Panther lead to 28-7 with 6:00 left in the second quarter. Legette finished a long drive with a 40 yard touchdown pass to Tyreik McAllister.
Keegan Sherman added the point after kick to close the Panther lead to 28-14 with 1:08 left in the second quarter. Just as it looked that the first half would end with this score, Fair broke loose on a 60-yard run for his fourth TD of the game as time ran out. Middleton’s kick gave the Panthers a 35-14 halftime lead.
After taking the kickoff to start the second half, the Vikings used up some clock but could not get the ball in for a score and gave the Panthers their first turn. Wright finished the Panther drive with a six yard touchdown run with 6:49 left in the third. Middleton hit extra point number six to give the Panthers a 42-14 lead. Fair added touchdown number five on a two yard run up the middle.
The Panthers went for a two point conversion after getting an offside penalty on the extra point kick, but came up short as the Viking defense made a good stop.
With 19 seconds left in the third quarter the Panthers were up 48-14. The Panthers went for the onside kick and recovered it near midfield. The third quarter ended with the Panthers driving following the kickoff recovery.
Fair added his final touchdown on a 36 yard run with 11:52 left in the game. Fair added the game’s final two points on a conversion run the give the Panthers the 56-14 lead.
Both sides played reserves in the final minutes to give the younger players some play time. On offense for the Vikings, Tyreck McAllister caught three passes for 56 yards and a touchdown and had 43 yards rushing on three carries, Kartilus McFadden had 54 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown, Marc Legette was 3 of 17 passing for 56 yards and a touchdown and had 9 yards rushing on 4 carries and Jackson Williams had 18 yards on 4 carries.
On defense for the Vikings, Jackson Williams had nine tackles, six assists, Davonte Porter had eight tackles, four assists, no. 3 had eight tackles, three assists with a fumble recovery, Chandler Nolan had five tackles, eight assists, Justin Hall had five tackles, seven assists and a fumble recovery, no. 55 had five tackles, four assists, Jay Bailey had five tackles, three assists, Mickey Dotson and Jalen Gomillian had three tackles, three assists each, Blake Tyler had two tackles six assists, Gaige Sanderson had two tackles, two assists, no. 53 added a tackle with five assists and Tevin Dimery added a tackle assist.
Latta will play East Clarendon at Latta with game time set for 7:30.
More photos will be online at www.thedillonherald.com.