No. 3 Hermitage repels Deep Run 20-14 in OT

The playoffs got an early start this year. Very early.

Hermitage sneaked by Deep Run 20-14 last night in a wild overtime game filled with passion on both sides, because the players knew what the implications were.

"This was definitely big," Panthers quarterback Brendan Riddick said. "There were playoffs on the line right there."

The Wildcats forced overtime with a game-changing interception and then the tying touchdown in the final seconds, but mistakes ultimately cost them in the extra period.

After a horse-collar tackle gave Hermitage a first down on the 5-yard line, a quarterback draw was called. Deep Run anticipated and stuffed the box with defenders, but Riddick rode right tackle Daniel Lawson into the end zone.

"There were a lot of people coming at us real fast," Lawson said. "My adrenaline was pumping, and I just tried to hit somebody as hard as I could."

A missed extra-point attempt opened the door for a Wildcats victory, but their drive was hampered by two delay-of-game penalties. On the decisive fourth down, Panthers cornerback Shamel White intercepted the ball in the end zone to secure the victory.

White, who had his first start last week, finished with two interceptions.

"I knew to anticipate that route," he said. "We'd been watching film, and we knew what to do."

The Panthers stuffed the Wildcats' rushing game. Curtis Grant had 12 tackles, Daryl Howell eight and Jaquan Roney seven. Deep Run had success early with Dallas Simmons rushing, but he left the game early in the second quarter and was less effective from that point on.

Instead it was Hermitage doing the rushing out of the gate, with Easton Gordon picking up 92 first-half yards.

"We knew we had to punch them in the mouth early," he said.

Deep Run had renewed hope after a Mike Wood interception shut down a six-minute drive by Hermitage in the fourth. Quarterback Kenny Williams took the team the rest of the way, connecting with Holden Bass on the game-tying touchdown with 13.7 seconds remaining and no time outs.

Instead of a key road victory, though, the Wildcats fell to 1-3 while watching the Panthers move to 3-1.

"I think ultimately we'll look back on this as a growing experience," Wildcats coach Greg Kendall said of his young team. "Most of them probably hadn't participated in an overtime game before."

For the Panthers, things won't get any easier in a loaded Colonial District.

"Every week is going to be a tough game," coach Patrick Kane said. "We'll have to come ready to play."

Deep Run ------------------------- 7 0 0 7 0 - 14
Hermitage ------------------------- 0 14 0 0 6 - 20

DR - Simmons 10 run (Bradley kick)

H - Vieng 7 pass from Riddick (Stiebel kick)

H - Gordon 39 run (Stiebel kick)

DR - Bass 11 pass from Williams (Bradley kick)

H - Riddick 5 run (kick failed)
RUSHING

Deep Run : Simmons 10-44, Roberts 6-19, Bass 4-4, Williams 5-3, Walker 4-0. Hermitage: Gordon 13-119, Riddick 18-50, Britt 1-7, Wright 3-1

PASSING

Deep Run: Williams 11-13-127. Hermitage: Riddick 8-14-63

RECEIVING

Deep Run: Bass 4-73, Sansom 5-43, Gerrald 1-13, Walker 1-4. Hermitage: Vieng 4-38, Britt 3-18, Yurchak 1-8