By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The Pelham Panthers dropped their second game of the season on the road at Prattville on Oct. 11, falling to the Lions 24-17.

“We just let too many opportunities slip by. The turnovers hurt us a little bit, but the bottom line is that we had opportunities and we didn’t capitalize,” said Pelham head coach Brett Burnett. “There’s a lot of football left to be played. We’re right here in the mix for the playoffs and we’ll come back next week and get ready for Chelsea.”

Prattville outgained Pelham 265 yards to 214 yards

Pelham lit up the scoreboard first, capping off its first drive of the game on a 38-yard field goal by Austin Bowen, giving the Panthers a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Pelham quarterback Devon Mines was the Panthers’ leading rusher, recording 109 yards on nine carries. He completed one of six passing attempts for 17 yards and a touchdown.

Defensive leaders for the Panthers were Christian Davis with 13 tackles, Terrell Blevins with five and Braxton Hoyett, Shun Bishop, Blake Dunaway, Josh Brasher and D.J. Ervin with four apiece.

Prattville answered with two touchdowns of its own: One on its first possession and another after the Lions recovered a Lavell Wynn fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff, giving Prattville the ball at the Pelham 30 yard line.

Two plays later, Pelham quarterback Devon Mines lit up the Panther sideline when he broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run, cutting the Lions’ lead to 14-10.

On its next drive, Prattville connected on a 36-yard field goal to put the Lions up 17-10 with 4:10 remaining in the first half.

Pelham answered late in the second quarter when Mines connected with R.J. McCall on a 17-yard pass for a touchdown. Bowen’s PAT tied the game at 17 at the half.

On Prattville’s opening drive of the second half, Pelham’s Shun Bishop picked off a Prattville pass, setting the Panthers to work at the Lion 31 yard line.

A few plays later, Pelham was unable to gain a first down on fourth-and-3, and turned the ball over on downs.

After missing a field goal on its next possession, Prattville scored the only points of the second half after picking off a Mines pass at the Pelham 25-yard line. The Lions scored on a 9-yard touchdown run a few plays later.