They say football is a game of inches, and for Batesburg-Leesville, it was in the Panthers’ 28-26 region-opening loss to Strom Thurmond Friday night. 

Batesburg-Leesville and Strom Thurmond were tied at 20 at the end of regulation. Both teams scored in overtime, but the difference came on the following two-point conversions. 

The Rebels converted their try. The Panthers were stopped a few inches short after handing the ball to Amadre Wooden. 

“We’re going to put the ball in 22’s hands. That ain’t no secret,” head coach Greg Lawson said. “ They got inside on one of our guys and made a play, and he wasn't able to get in. So, it's just one of those things. They made the play when they had to make the play. If I had to call the play over again, I'd probably call the same play.”

Wooden’s final run was no indictment of his game as a whole. He finished with 261 yards and scored three touchdowns, including the one in overtime on Batesburg’s first play.

The Panthers took control in an early defensive struggle, entering the final quarter up 14-0. Strom Thurmond’s offense came to life in the fourth and scored three touchdowns. 

Strom evened the score less than six minutes into the quarter, scoring on explosive plays. The first was a 31-yard touchdown reception. A Panthers fumble gave the Rebels the ball back right away, and they capitalized with an 88-yard touchdown to tie it. 

“Football’s a back-and-forth thing, as you saw tonight,” Lawson said. “That time they made the play, and we didn’t.” 

After trading punts, Batesburg-Leesville retook the lead with a KD Whitt wildcat run up the middle. Whitt ran through Strom defenders, dodging tackles before breaking free for the 73-yard score. 

That lead did not last long, with Strom responding a few minutes later. The Rebels moved the ball and chewed plenty of time off the clock, scoring with less than a minute to go. 

With the Panthers unable to score before the clock hit zero, the game went to overtime. 

Strom started with the ball and immediately put pressure on the Panthers, scoring a touchdown and successful two-point try. 

Wooden scored from 10 yards out on the Panthers’ first offensive play before he was stuffed on the two-point attempt. As the final whistle blew, Strom's defense ran off the field in celebration, while Batesburg’s offense walked back to the sideline with their heads hanging in defeat. 

“They’ve got no reason to hang their heads,” Lawson said. “We gave them all we could. We played with them for 48 minutes and overtime.  We just came up short. Unfortunately, when you have two great teams play each other, somebody's got to lose.”

Batesburg-Leesville fell to (3-3) overall and started the region season with a loss. The defending conference champions will look to get back in the win column next week with a road game against Ninety Six. 

Week 6 scoreboard

Dutch Fork: 50, Chapin: 0

Irmo: 35,  Lexington: 0

White Knoll: 35 River Bluff: 3

Midland Valley: 63, Airport: 26

Gray Collegiate: 56, Brookland-Cayce: 0

South Aiken: 17, Gilbert: 14

Swansea: 31, Keenan: 22

Saluda: 48, American Leadership: 0

Strom Thurmond: 28, Batesburg-Leesville: 26

Pelion: 35, Ninety Six: 28

Northside Christian: 49, S.C. Spartans: 0