Page travels back across the mountain with a 16-7 win on senior night

The word “if” is a small word. In the game of football, however, “if” can become a gigantic word.

If the Panther defense hadn’t turned the General offense away from scoring twice inside the 5-yard line.

If a penalty hadn’t nullified a Phillip Hovatter touchdown in the first quarter.

If these things had not happened, the Stonewall Jackson Generals would have easily defeated the Page County Panthers in Quicksburg on Friday, Oct. 31.

Instead, Page went back across the mountain with a 16-7 win on senior night in Quicksburg.

Page (3-6, 1-4) got on the board with 10:32 left in the second quarter after a 10 play, 84-yard drive capped by Aaron Samuels’ 14-yard touchdown pass from Dakota Wolf for the 6-0 lead.

Stonewall (3-6, 0-4) received the kickoff and immediately fumbled on their first play giving Page the ball at the Generals 22-yard line. The Stonewall defense stiffened and forced the Panthers to kick a 31-yard field goal by Vincenzo Coppola and a 9-0 lead.
After three plays and a punt by Stonewall, Page took over on their 26-yard line and marched 74 yards in 10 plays capped by Dakota Wolf’s 16-yard touchdown run. The PAT by Coppola gave the Panthers a 16-o lead.

Stonewall took the ensuing kickoff at their own 21-yard line. After two pass completions of 21 and 47 yards, the Generals found themselves facing a first and goal from the 6-yard line with :01 left. The pass from John Michael Pirtle to Derrick turner fell incomplete and Page went to the locker room with a 16-0 lead.

Stonewall’s first possession of the third quarter saw the Panthers turn the Generals away on a fourth and two. However, Stonewall did score with 1:43 left in the third quarter on Jordan Laughlin’s 10-yard touchdown run. The PAT by Juan Guerrero made the score 16-7. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.

Stonewall was led by John-Michael Pirtle with a 5 for 10 passing for 108 yards. Phillip Hovatter caught three passes for 46 yards and Derrick Turner had two passes for 62 yards.

Wolf led Page with 55 yards rushing and 192 yards passing.
Stonewall closes out the season at Wilson Memorial on Nov. 7.