By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ENSLEY – Costly turnovers plagued the Pelham Panthers as they dropped their first road test of the season 36-28 at Jackson-Olin on Sept. 12.

Pelham drove the ball to its own 43 yard line on the final drive of the game, but a series consisting of an incomplete pass, a quarterback sack and a Jackson-Olin interception sealed the victory for the Mustangs.

The Panthers (1-2, 0-2 in Class 6A Region 5) racked up 345 total yards, compared to the Mustangs’ 303 yards, but were unable to overcome two lost fumbles and the interception late in the game.

Moregan Sharp led the Panthers’ ground attack on the rain-soaked field, churning out 164 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. PHS quarterback Logan Burnett completed 10 of 27 passing attempts for 146 yards and a touchdown.

Jon Drake and Spencer Wilson led Pelham on defense, recording 12 and nine tackles, respectively.

Sharp gave Pelham an early lead by running the ball 53 yards for a touchdown a few seconds into the game, and Austin Bowen’s PAT put the visiting team ahead 7-0.

The Mustangs answered with a pair of touchdowns and successful 2-point conversions to take a 16-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

Sharp recorded a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:46 remaining in the first half, and Bowen’s PAT closed Jackson-Olin’s lead to 16-14 at halftime.

The Mustangs started off the second half by adding two touchdowns and one 2-point conversion to take a 30-14 lead.

Pelham’s Tyler Wilburn added a 23-yard rushing touchdown and added the 2-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter to bring the game to 30-22, but the Mustangs answered with another touchdown with 3:58 remaining in the contest.

The Panthers’ final touchdown came with 2:42 remaining when Burnett connected with Jeremy Ross on a 21-yard touchdown pass.