Vandals fall in overtime thriller, eliminated from postseason

The Vandals had their work cut out for them on Friday as they fought to remain eligible for postseason play, facing a 5-2 Pana squad that had already shut out three of their opponents.

But they jumped out to a 7-0 lead and held that lead at halftime, thanks to tough defensive play and a strong running game.

And despite the loss of running back Drew Stewart due to a sprained wrist, the Vandals stuck with the playoff-bound Panthers score for score throughout four quarters.

The Panthers, however, made the best of one last series of plays in defeating Vandalia in overtime, 22-14.

It was a heart-breaking loss on a night that the Vandals honored their senior members of the squad, but they gave an effort that coach John Stout graded as their best of the season.

“I’m proud of our kids,” Stout said. “I thought that they came out with a lot of fire in practice this week, and that they had a tremendous, tremendous effort tonight.”

The Vandals took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter after a lengthy drive that included big runs by Stewart and Cory Bunker, two of which were on fourth down.

On fourth and 2 from the Pana 46, Bunker carried the ball down to the 24-yard line. Stewart followed with a 9-yard run, and after the Pana defense stopped the Vandals cold two times, quarterback Marty Johnson ran the ball down to the 3.

With the ball spotted 2-yard line, Tyler Vosholler scored to break the scoreless tie, and Daniel Bell added the point-after to put the Vandals up 7-0.

The Vandals maintained that lead through the first half, but suffered a big loss. Stewart left the game with what was later determined to be a sprained wrist.

“That really hurt us,” Stout said, “because Drew was running the ball well the first couple of series. He was getting a lot of yards.

“He was also kind of our emotional leader. He got the team fired up those first couple of drives,” the coach said.

Stewart left the game after gaining 39 yards on 11 carries, but his absence was also felt on defense.

“When Drew came out, we had to put a fourth sophomore in on defense, and that hurt us,” Stout said.

“Those sophomores did a really good job, but it still hurt not to have Drew in there.”

Pana evened the score at 7-7 in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Jake Cutler, then Vandalia went back on top with a 30-yard pass from Johnson to Daniel Bell. Bell’s extra-point kick gave the Vandals a 14-7 lead.

The TD pass was one of only four thrown by Johnson. He completed two of the four, and one was intercepted.

The Vandals, by design, limited their passing game.

“We threw it when we wanted to, instead of when we had to,” Stout said.

“We mixed it in, and when we do that, it works,” he said. “When we get in a situation where we have to throw the ball 20 times, it doesn’t.”

Pana tied the game in the third quarter on a 6-yard run by Cody McLaughlin. The score stayed knotted through the end of regulation. A Pana drive late in the fourth quarter was snuffed out by an interception.

Pana got the ball first in overtime and scored in its four-down set. The Panthers were willing to accept a one-point kick, but changed their strategy after a Vandals offsides penalty moved the ball closer to the goal line. The strategy worked.

Down 22-14, the Vandals were unsuccessful with a couple of runs, and a pass was intercepted. After pulling the ball in, the Pana player spiked the ball.

Vandalia picked up the loose ball and ran it in, but officials said that the play was dead as soon as the interception was made.

Bunker led the Vandals on the ground with 49 yards, and his contributions also included a 24-yard kickoff return that put the Vandals in good position when Bunker was hit well after being shoved out of bounds.

“We get that additional 15 yards and we’re starting inside their 30,” Stout said. “With the momentum that return gave us, we may have been able to march it inside (for a score).”

Vosholler added 34 yards rushing on 10 carries, Johnson carried five times for 27 yards, and Stewart’s subtitute, Nathan Henna, added 15 yards on six carries.

Bunker (10 yards) and Bell (30 yards) each had one reception.

On defense, Caleb Walton and Jake Whalen each were in on eight tackles, with one of Walton’s tackles resulting in a 9-yard loss. Blake Mills, Will Cowger, Aaron Coney and Blake Mills each were in on six tackles.

The Vandals finish their season when they travel this Friday evening to face rival Greenville.