Sumter County Middle hands Albany Middle its first loss

ALBANY — The game clock finally did what Sumter County’s defense could not.

It stopped Albany Middle.

The Indians spent Wednesday afternoon falling behind, fighting back and refusing to go quietly at Hugh Mills Stadium. They recovered a fumble. They surrendered a defensive touchdown. They trailed by 14 points with barely three minutes remaining, then somehow got the football back with one last chance to win.

Only when the final seconds disappeared could Sumter County exhale.

The Panthers escaped with a 26-20 victory, handing Albany Middle its first loss of the season and dropping the Indians to 5-1.

This was a middle school football game that came with a varsity-sized finish.

Both teams scored during an eventful first quarter, and Sumter County appeared ready to add to its lead late in the period. Instead, the Panthers lost the football, and Albany’s Christian Watson recovered.

The quarter ended before the Indians could take advantage, but their drive continued.

Albany moved inside the Sumter County 15-yard line before a penalty and a sack pushed the Indians all the way back to the 31. What appeared to be a promising drive was suddenly in danger of producing nothing.

Quarterback Josiah West fixed that with one throw.

West found Watson behind the Panthers’ defense and delivered a perfect strike for a 31-yard touchdown. The play gave Albany a 12-8 lead and offered the first indication that the Indians weren’t going to be discouraged easily.

A celebration penalty pushed the two-point attempt back near the 20-yard line. West completed a pass to Lionel Jackson Jr., who fought his way toward the goal line but was stopped just short.

The missed conversion would matter later.

Albany’s defense forced a stop on Sumter County’s next possession, giving the Indians the ball at their own 26 with an opportunity to take control.

Instead, the game turned in an instant.

A bad snap hit the ground on Albany’s first play. A Sumter County defender scooped up the loose ball and raced into the end zone, giving the Panthers a 14-12 halftime lead without their offense taking the field.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Sumter County began creating separation early in the fourth.

The Panthers put together a five-play touchdown drive to extend their lead to 20-12. When Albany couldn’t answer and was forced to punt, time began working against the Indians.

Then came the play that appeared to finish them.

On Sumter County’s first snap after the punt, a Panthers runner broke free for a 55-yard touchdown. The lead was 26-12 with just more than three minutes remaining.

Two touchdowns down. Almost out of time. First loss of the season approaching.

Albany responded as if none of that mattered.

West connected with Jamikel Tiller for a long completion that carried the Indians to the Sumter County 11. Two plays later, West found Jackson for a touchdown. The two-point conversion cut the Panthers’ lead to 26-20.

Now Sumter County needed only to run out the clock.

Albany’s defense wouldn’t let it.

The Indians stuffed the Panthers on the next possession, leaving Sumter County facing fourth down with only seconds remaining. Rather than punt, the Panthers attempted a halfback pass.

Albany intercepted it.

Suddenly, the Indians had the football at their own 30-yard line with 43 seconds remaining and one final opportunity to turn a certain defeat into an improbable victory.

West completed two quick passes to move Albany near midfield. The Indians hurried to the line, searching for one more big play.

They never got it.

The final seconds expired before Albany could reach the end zone, allowing Sumter County to escape Hugh Mills Stadium with the victory.

Albany Middle lost for the first time this season. But even in defeat, the Indians demonstrated why they had won their first five.