By Max Hopson

Chickasaw Journal

AMORY - Houston went in looking for a win, but didn't find it at last Friday's game against the Amory Panthers. The Toppers came home with 20-16 loss and are digging in for a shot at the post season. The Toppers will face Winona and Nettleton in their quest for a playoff berth.

"We still have a chance at the playoffs depending on what we do in these last two district games," said Coach Buz Boyer.

Houston's Malcolm Hogan received the opening kick and moved the Toppers to the thirty-three. The Topper couldn't sustain a drive and returned possession but he Panthers didn't have an easy time getting numbers on the board either. What looked to be an Amory TD pass was blocked by Houston's Devoris Ivy and the Panthers had to settle for Mark Creekmore's 32-yard field goal on forth and seven to get the first three points.

Jacob Long received for Houston and returned to the forty-seven. Houston got a drive going but couldn't put the ball where it needed to be and the ball was turned over on downs.

After five consecutive first downs, the Panthers made the first touchdown of the night as Evan Lackey ran in an eleven-yard touchdown, and Creekmore followed with the PAT. The Toppers began another drive and made four first downs before the first quarter ended.

The Toppers were not able to get in the touchdown but Long put up the 24-yard field goal to put the Houston boys on the board.

The Panthers didn't go far on their possession and the Topper defense forced the punt from forth and seventeen. The ball changed possession with neither team gaining enough ground for the TD. An Amory sack on QB Shawn Wright forced the fumble to return possession to the Panthers, but the half ended before Amory could get all the way to the end zone.

The Panthers made a big first drive and were determined to get to the end zone, but HHS senior Avery Gates was equally determined they wouldn't as he busted through the middle and put the Panther runner back for a loss on third and three. Creekmore went for and got the 22-yard FG to extend the Amory lead to 13-3.

HHS senior Malcolm Hogan received for Houston and returned to the forty, sparking a drive that saw sophomore Reggie Buchanan drive the ball in for the 7-yard TD on second and ten to close to 13-10.

The Panthers made a quick reply with a seven-yard run by Lackey and a Creekmore PAT. The Toppers drive didn't ignite and Amory went for one more big play with a pass that tipped the fingers of the receiver. Houston's Floyd Young was in the right place at the right time as he made the snag for the interception to end the quarter.

The Toppers got their long, hard drive to work in the fourth and put Buchanan in place for the three-yard TD run. A bad snap foiled the PAT and holder Brennan Pugh, who previously had turned an error into a conversion, didn't have enough time for the recovery.

The Panthers held on to the ball for a long drive, but couldn't convert it into points. The Toppers went for the fourth and ten but came up short and took the 20-16 loss.

" A couple of breakdowns in special teams really hurt us when we had chances to capture the momentum during the game," Boyer said.

Upcoming action

The Toppers will host Winona this Friday with kickoff at 7 p.m. This division game will be followed by a division road game at Nettleton and a non-division game on Oct. 31 at New Hope.