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The W.S. Neal Blue Eagles took to the road Thursday in their 2024 season opener facing the Excel Panthers.

The first half of the game was a back-and-forth session for both teams with Excel making the only touch down during the half.

The Excel Panthers would work until just five minutes left in the first quarter before finding the end zone. A two-point conversion was good putting 8 on the board for the host team.

The Eagles would battle the Panthers for the remainder of the half keeping Excel out of the end zone, but not finding the goal line themselves.

As the teams headed into the locker room, Excel leads 8-0 over the Eagles.

As the second half gets underway, the Eagles start on defense with the Panthers taking the ball for a run. A pair of penalties against the Eagles gives the Panthers some free yard gains and back-to-back first downs.The possession would end with the Panthers across the end zone for another TD on the night. A good two-point conversion puts Excel 16-0 over the Eagles.

The Eagles would get another shot at the ball in their possession starting near mid-field. But the Panther defense was determined to shut them down.

The possession ends with punt putting the ball back in Excel’s hands. It would take just one play for the Panthers to find the end zone and another TD. The two-point conversion fails, but the Panthers stretch their lead over W.S. Neal, 22-0.

When the Eagles get the ball on the kick, they make a mad dash to the end zone, but fall short. It was determination that took the ball into the end zone for the Eagles in answer to Excel’s runs. The Eagles put 6 on the board. A two-point conversion puts two more on the board for the Eagles, making it a 22-8 game favoring Excel with just over 4 minutes left in the third.

The Panthers can’t make anything happen with the possession and are forced to punt to the Eagles.

The Eagle possession was fraught with penalties, but a huge pass from Crook to Kelley puts an Eagle squarely in the red zone and finds the end zone on the next play. The Eagles PAT falls short. At the end of three quarters, W.S. Neal tightens the score, with 14 points to Excel’s 22.

The final quarter of the game would have Excel with the ball first. But with no progress downfield, Excel punts the ball back to an Eagle possession.

The Eagles work the field to make some progress toward the goal line taking some chances along the way. Those plays pay off and put the Eagles within reach of the end zone. QB Jarrod Crook keeps the ball and finds the goal line to put the Eagles closer to tying the game. Failing to make the two-point conversion work, the Eagles leave it at 6 for the score. With just 6 minutes in the game, Excel leads W.S. Neal 22-20.

As the Panthers get the ball on a possession and turn it up taking the kick all the way down field to get within 30-yards of the goal line. A penalty against the Eagles gets them 10-yards closer. A quick penalty against the Panthers takes five yards away. But the  determination of the Panthers put them over the goal line on a trio of plays to add to their score. A good PAT puts them up by a comfortable lead, 29-20.

The Eagles make the most of the possession and need just a pair of plays to find the end zone. A two-point conversion attempt is good and the Eagles get to within one point to tie the game.

But the clock would be the enemy. With Excel in possession with just over 2 minutes to play, they work the clock to their advantage and run the time to 0:00 to take the win in the non-region game.

Final score from Excel: W.S. Neal 28, Excel 29.

The Eagles will play host to St. Michael’s on Sept. 6 in East Brewton in their first regular season home game and their first region battle – the first of only four home games this season. Kick off will be at 7 p.m.