The Pelham Panthers drew first blood at Clay-Chalkville last Friday night. But a 23-point second half onslaught by the home standing Cougars resulted in a 33-10 thumping of the 6A playoff bound visitors.

Pelham won’t have long, however, to lick its wounds from this non-regional catfight. The Panthers go on the road this Friday night to take on Tuscaloosa County in the first round of the state playoffs.

The Panthers took the lead in the second quarter on a 30-yard Patrick Farrell field goal. But the Cougars answered with a two-yard touchdown run and point after.

Pelham retaliated with a 19-yard aerial from Josh Thomason to Andrew Davis. But a missed extra point by Farrell resulted in a short-lived three-point lead, 10-7.

The Cougars tied the score in the second quarter on a 28-yard field goal of their own. And it was downhill for the Panthers from there.

Clay-Chalkville would go on to score on a 48-yard pass and kick, a 35-yard field goal, an 18-yard pass and a 13-yard pass and kick.

While the Panthers played toe-to-toe with the Cougars statistically generating 260 yards total offense to 269 for Clay-Chalkville, Pelham suffered three interceptions and one fumble to just one turnover for the Panthers.

The Cougars and Panthers earned 12 first downs each