david@wkyk.com
yanceysports.comThe balance of power in Toe River Conference football has shifted from the West side of Burnsville to the East side as the Panthers of East Yancey Panthers finished off an undefeated regular season in the Tri-County middle school league with an impressive win over the defending champion Rebels in the regular season finale in Cane River on Wednesday.
With the win the Panthers earn the right to host a semi-final game this week. East Yancey (5-0) will take on Avery Middle (3-2) Tuesday in Burnsville while Cane River (3-2) will have to travel to Bakersville to face Bowman (4-1).
The winners of those two games will meet October 9 at Avery High School in the Tri-County Bowl to determine the 2012 TRC champion.
In the rivalry game between the Panthers and Rebels both teams turned the football over on their opening possessions of the game but East Yancey was able to puts points on the scoreboard first after forcing a Caner River punt on their second drive of the evening.
Starting from the East 45 yard line, Panther QB Trey Robinson moved his team down field with a big run on first down and a few plays later showed his passing ability when he hooked up with wide receiver Seth Edwards down to the Rebel one yard line. Robinson dove in on the next play and then carried the ball across for the two point conversion to put the Panthers on top 8-0 with 2:30 left in the first quarter.
The two teams again traded turnovers and the Panthers used the remainder of the second quarter clock to string together a dozen plays to grab a 16-0 lead at the half. Michael Bingham capped the 67 yard drive with a three yard run and together with the two point connection between Trey Robinson and Devin Woody the Panthers enjoyed a comfortable lead at the break.
East would put together another long drive to open the second half to increase their advantage to 24-0. Panther running back Mike Bingham capped the 76 yard march with a one yard plunge and Trey Robinson added the extra two points on a quarterback keeper.
The Panther lead grew even larger when Robinson hooked up with Bingham on a scoring pass play that covered 62 yards. Robinson’s two point conversion run upped the East Yancey lead to 32-0.
East added another touchdown in the 4th quarter before Cane River was able to register a score. The Rebels kept working hard and put together a 60 yard drive to cut into the Panther lead. Rebel QB Thomas Davids finished off the drive with a 6 yard TD run and then he hooked up with running back Adam Shuford for the two point conversion to cut the East lead to 30 points.
Davids also had a hand in the Rebel’s other score when he tossed a 10 yard pass to wide receiver Isaiah Buchanan to climax a 50 yard drive for the final points of the game.
Come out and show your support this Tuesday as both Yancey County middle school teams vie for a spot in the Tri-County B owl.
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