By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The Pelham Panthers improved to 5-1 (3-1 in Class 6A, Region 4) on Oct. 4, taking a double-overtime victory on the road at Wetumpka High School.

The Indians outgained the Panthers 336 yards-302 yards, but solid offensive performances from Moregan Sharp, Devon Mines and Tyler Brasfield helped seal the victory for the visiting team.

PHS head coach Brett Burnett praised his team’s second-half performance, especially the defense’s stands in overtime.

“We just challenged them (at halftime). I’m proud of them. It was a great effort,” Burnett said. “The thing I’m proud of, we never gave up. We kept battling and battling and it was a great team win.”

Sharp ended the night with 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns on only eight carries. He was followed by Mines, who had 66 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and Brasfield, with 55 yards on 17 carries.

Defensive standouts were Josh Brasher and D.J. Ervin, who each had nine tackles. Mississippi State commit Braxton Hoyett had eight tackles and Christian Davis had seven tackles and an interception.

Wetumpka jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but Pelham answered with 21 unanswered points. Mines connected with Ben Smith on a 31-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, and Austin Bowen added the PAT.

Mines and Sharp added touchdown runs of 43 yards and 34 yards, respectively, in the third quarter, with Bowen adding PATs after both.

The Indians tied the game at 21 late in the third quarter, and took the lead with a touchdown to open the fourth quarter. Pelham tied the game at 28 midway through the fourth quarter on a 14-yard Sharp touchdown run and Bowen extra point.

In the first overtime period, Mines, after scrambling in the backfield for several seconds, connected with Jalen Smith on a nine-yard touchdown reception. Bowen’s PAT put the Panthers ahead 35-28.

After an apparent fourth-down stop by the Panthers on the Indians’ ensuing possession, a face mask penalty gave Wetumpka a fresh set of downs, leading to an Indian touchdown to tie the game at 35.

In the second overtime, the Pelham defense held the Indians to a field goal, setting up the game-winning 1-yard touchdown run by Brasfield.