The Pelham Panthers held off a resurgent Oak Mountain team in the second half of Friday night’s region game between the two rivals.

Pelham jumped out to a first-half lead, but found themselves trying to reclaim it in the fourth quarter after two successful Oak Mountain scoring drives.

The Panthers

(2-2) held on to win the game, 21-14.

Pelham relied heavily on the ground game, led by 153 yards on 17 carries from running back Drew Burleson.

Burleson also scored on a 43-yard scamper in the second quarter.

Pelham’s winning score came on a 2-yard keeper by

quarterback Chase Armstrong.

Armstrong also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.

Coach Toney Pugh’s Eagles were led most of the night by backup quarterback Trent McKnight.

The sophomore came in the game when starter Clint Massey left with an injury.

McKnight orchestrated two scoring drives in the second half of play and was driving for the tying score when time expired at the end of the fourth quarter.

His 41-yard pass play to Bear Burnett ended inside the Pelham 10 yard line as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

Burnett had eight receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown.

McKnight finished the game 22-of-31, passing for 276 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score.

The loss dropped the Eagles to 0-2 in region play.

Oak Mountain (1-3) will travel to face Valley next week.

Pelham will also play away, taking on class 4A Chelsea (3-1)