Facing the unbeaten St. Regis Ramblers at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United Township rallied from a 15-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Then, after falling behind by 7, scored with 2 seconds remaining, but could not convert their two-point conversion try. As a result, the Panthers suffered their third heartbreaking defeat of the season, 36-35 on Friday, leaving their hopes of landing their first playoff berth in 23 years hanging by a thread.
To make the playoffs, the Panthers (3-5) must win against Galesburg next Friday and hope there are somewhat fewer than 256 teams in the state who finish the season with 5 or more wins. UT does have one of the highest totals of playoff points (opponents’ wins), which gives them a chance to squeak in at 4-5, IF there are any openings. Going into Friday’s action, 182 teams already had 5 or more wins. If 74 more schools get there in the final two weeks, UT has no chance. Last year, WB6 foe Sterling got in at 4-5 and won their first round game.
Trailing 22-7 in the third quarter, UT got a 32-yard TD pass from Christian Peterson to Bandi Diarra to pull within 22-15. Then, down 29-15 in the fourth, the Panthers evened the score at 29-all on a 4-yard run by Isaiah Navarrette (followed by a blocked extra point), and, after the defense recovered a fumble, a 10-yard pass from Peterson to Cohen Parsons and a two-point conversion run by Navarette with 5:41 to play.
The Ramblers scored to go up 36-29 with 2:41 left, but the Panthers mounted a last-ditch drive that culminated with a 10-yard throw from Peterson to Jasiah Massey with just :02 remaining on the clock. Rather than attempt the extra point kick to send the game to overtime, the Panthers chose to go for the win. But Navarette could not get to the outside, attempted to reverse his field, and was trapped in the backfield.
Peterson finished 25-of-34 passing for 299 yards and four TDs, two of them to Massey, who compiled 112 yards on 10 catches. Navarrette finished with 94 yards on 16 carries.