By JORDON SEMIEN / For the Reporter

VINCENT — The Vincent High Yellow Jackets played host to the visiting Panthers of Walter Wellborn looking to end their three game losing streak to the Panthers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be, as Vincent fell, 45-6.

Walter Wellborn won the coin toss and elected to receive, making short work of the Vincent defense as they marched down the field toward a 1-yard quarterback keeper for Landon Machristie touchdown with 10:22 left in the first quarter.

Vincent’s struggles starred early on in the match up, leading to two three and out possessions. Likewise, the Panthers offense started the quarter hot, but fizzled out with three stalled drives, including one botched snap on a punt.

The proceeding Yellow Jacket drive stalled after the most yardage coming from a Quarterback Michael Gilham pass to wide receiver Quartez Walker netting four yards.

The second quarter started with matching two and outs for both schools, before the Panthers found pay dirt again on a Chantz Goodman 4-yard run and a 2-point conversion, ending a 49-yard drive and taking a 14-0 lead. Goodman finished the game with 94 yards rushing and two scores.

The Panthers got more padding from a 76-yard scoring run by running back Kevin Mixon, extending their lead to 21-0. Tempers flared on the next Vincent drive, leading to a small skirmish along the Walter Wellborn sideline after a rough tackle led to words and shoves traded between players.

Referees cleared the players from the field and took an official time out to allow both teams to cool off, before assessing offsetting personal fouls. The Vincent drive continued for two more plays before an interception by Panther defender Landon Machristie was returned to the Vincent 16.

The Panthers ran out the remaining time before taking a 21-0 lead into the second half. Vincent received the ball first in the second half, before Michael Gilham’s second interception, this time returned for a score.

After the ensuing kickoff, the Yellow Jackets found the end zone on a 61-yard dash from Groce to get on the board, 27-6. Groce was a force on special teams, returning almost every kickoff and totaling over 10 tackles on the night.

The celebration was short lived as Walter Wellborn went on to put the game away on separate scores by Goodman (4 yards) and Mixon (32 yards), pushing the lead and final score to 45-6 Panthers.

“We have to wrap up in our tackles, offensive line needs to block more,” said head coach Jason Hill. “We need to find ways to get the ball to (Groce) and get him cranked up”.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action Sept. 13 as they start a three game road trip, starting with Pleasant Valley, then corresponding trips to Ranburne and Talladega County Central.