When you got

past the glitz and glamour of the Georgia Dome last Friday night, it was

the same Starr's Mill team that had played and won 13 games this year.

The Panthers

received the opening kick, ran eight plays and scored on a 45-yard touchdown

pass to Reuben Houston. The drive took four minutes and 11 seconds and

the Panthers looked like they were ready to stay in the driver's seat.

And then Harrison

got the ball.

The Hoyas scored

less than two minutes later, after a 66-yard run from Jonathan Walker.

The score was now tied and nothing was certain. Harrison scored on its

next three possessions, while the Panthers punted on their next three

drives. The score with five minutes left to play in the first half was

28-7.

Harrison was

finally stopped on downs and forced to punt with two minutes left in the

first half. Starr's Mill started a key drive, which included huge catches

from Houston and Kyle Jones. The drive ended with a 49-yard field goal

from Jon Vickers, making the score 28-10.

Many teams

would have folded in the second half, especially when the team you are

kicking off to has scored on four out of five drives on you. But Starr's

Mill didn't quit.

The Panthers

stopped the Hoyas on their opening drive of the second half and then drove

down the field and scored on a four-yard quarterback keeper from Brad

McClaren. Starr's Mill attempted an onside kick but couldn't gain possession.

The defense rose up again, forcing a punt, but the offense was pinned

deep on its side of the field.

Harrison got

the ball back, attempted a field goal in the fourth quarter and missed.

Starr's Mill started another drive, which ended with an interception.

Harrison drove down to the Starr's Mill five yard line and connected on

a field goal. The Panthers responded with a great drive, sustained by

key plays from McClaren, Houston and Jason Laney. It was Laney who scored

the touchdown at the end of the drive from five yards out.

Starr's Mill

was now one touchdown away from tying the ball game.

The Panther

defense did its job, stopping Harrison deep on the Hoyas' next drive.

The offense, which did not have the benefits of any timeouts left, couldn't

get to the end zone in time, though. The game, and the season, ended for

the Panthers.

It is now time

to comment on what a joy it has been to watch the team this season. They

have played some of the most exciting football this county has ever seen

and should be commended for their efforts.

A 13-game winning

streak is not something to shrug off. It is also important to recognize

how quickly this team has reached this level. Starr's Mill had its first

graduating class last year and this is only the Panthers' third year of

varsity play. Congratulations to the players and coaches of a terrific

program on an excellent season.

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