LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. ? After a week?s layoff, the Lawrence County Wildcats (4-2, 1-2) returned to action, hosting the Panthers of Maplewood Comprehensive High School (5-1, 3-0)in the third region 5, 4-A game of the season. The Wildcats rode a modest two game win streak into the game, but they faced the task of playing without their top receiver, as Garrett Hughes sat out a mandatory one game suspension incurred with his ejection from the Hickman County game of two weeks ago.

In the first half, Maplewood came out and, after forcing a Lawrence County three-and-out, drove down for the opening touchdown on the shoulders of tailback Terrance Holt, with quarterback Courtney Grimes punching it in. This would be a recurring theme for the game, as Holt was the main workhorse for the Panthers, scoring his first touchdown in the second quarter to widen the Maplewood lead to 14-0. With just under five minutes remaining in the first half, Lawrence County took over at its own 20-yard line. After a holding call went against them, the Wildcats picked up a first down on a somewhat strange call and capitalized on the opportunity. The Panthers aided the Lawrence County cause with two key penalties ? a 15-yard facemask and a pass interference ? and Garrick Barnett found Matt Moss in the end zone for the touchdown with 1:08 remaining in the half.

Maplewood, however, came out and answered the charge on the first play of the third quarter. Holt took the handoff and scampered past the Lawrence County defense untouched for a 57 yard touchdown run to widen the lead to 21-0. For much of the remainder of the second half, the Wildcats hung around, thanks to tough defensive play and several Maplewood mistakes, but they couldn?t cut into the lead. Late in the fourth quarter, Grimes snuck into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game and stretched the Panther lead to the final margin of 28-7. Holt finished with over 200 yards rushing for the Panthers.

Next weekend, the Wildcats travel to Tullahoma (4-1, 1-1) looking to get back on track and march on toward a potential playoff birth. Kickoff is at 7:00.

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