By Michael Lindsay
The York Institute Dragons picked up their fifth consecutive win Friday evening as they held off a late Stone Memorial run to defeat the Panthers, 27-21.
“Up front, I’m proud of the offensive and defensive lines,” said York head coach Derwin Wright. “Overall, we did our jobs. The thing that really showed me a lot about our football team is when they tied it at 21-21, we answered.”
York was led by 153 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns by Kole Brannon along with 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns by Blake Voiles.
“Kole had a heck of a night tonight,” said Wright. “The guys did a great job on our counters and reverses. We have to keep working and improving.”
Stone Memorial was led by quarterback Noah Potter, who went 18-26 for 150 yards through the air with 3 passing touchdowns.
“We told our guys we have to swarm tackle,” said Wright. “We made the plays when we had to have them.”
The Dragons struck first with 6:56 remaining in the opening period as Brannon took a counter 25 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 7-0 lead.
Stone Memorial answered in the second quarter as Potter hit Kadyn Page in the back of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7 with 8:44 remaining until halftime.
York Institute found the end zone on their ensuing drive, a 16-play, 68 yard march down the field that ate up nearly 8 minutes of game time. Voiles capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to give York a 14-7 lead at halftime.
The Dragons went ahead by 2 possessions late in the third quarter as another Voiles touchdown gave York a 21-7 lead with 3:29 remaining in the third.
Stone Memorial answered on their ensuing drive as Potter hit Page on a 42-yard touchdown pass to bring his team within one score at 21-14 entering the fourth quarter.
The Panthers tied the contest with 9:17 remaining in the game as Potter connected with Hunter Haney for his third touchdown pass of the day, this one from 18 yards out to tie the game at 21 points each.
York Institute answered less than 2 minutes later as Brannon broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown rush to give York a 27-21 lead with 7:45 left in the fourth.
The Dragon defense held strong over the game’s final 7:45 as they kept Stone Memorial out of the end zone along with an interception by Lake Drake to seal the 27-21 victory.
York Institute improves to 5-2 overall and hosts Friendship Christian next week while Stone Memorial falls to 5-3 and takes next week off.