Quitman suffers first loss at Magnet Cove

MAGNET COVE — Magnet Cove scored 41 first-half points Friday, but Quitman came back from 28 points down to make it a one-score game in the fourth quarter before the Panthers pulled away for a 60-41 victory in 2A-5 conference play.

Quitman was(5-1, 2-1) was previously undefeated, outscoring opponents, 18046, through the first five games. However, the Bulldogs’ five opponents are a combined 5-21.

Senior running back Eli Dawson gave Magnet Cove (3-3, 2-1) an early lead with a seven-yard rushing touchdown. Junior Alex Ordonez kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Quitman answered on the next drive, but failed on the extra point attempt. Dawson punished the visitors with a

52-yard rushing touchdown on the next drive and Ordonez gave the Panthers a

14-6 lead.

Junior Jaryd McJunkins gave Magnet Cove a possession late in the quarter with an interception on Quitman’s 29yard line. Junior Hodges then connected with sophomore Landon Stone for a seven-yard touchdown pass for a 20-6 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Quitman cut into the lead with a touchdown early in the second quarter, but Stone capped off Magnet Cove’s next drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. A 37-yard touchdown run by senior Trenton Robinson added to the lead late in the quarter.

Magnet Cove held Quitman to a turnover on down at the Panthers’ 31-yard line in the final minute of the half. The Bulldogs paid for it as Hodges connected with McJunkins for a 69-yard touchdown pass before the end of the half. Ordonez gave the hosts a 41-13 lead at halftime.

Quitman scored 21 points in the third quarter. Magnet Cove’s only points came off of a 32-yard field goal by Ordonez.

The Bulldogs gained momentum late in the third quarter with a 50-yard fumble return for a touchdown to make the score 44-27. The score was just 47-41 midway through the final quarter after two more Quitman touchdowns and a 36-yard field goal by Ordonez.

Magnet Cove put the game away with a late 15-yard touchdown pass to McJunkins and a 45-yard fumble return for a touchdown by senior defensive lineman Aaron Walling. Another extra point by Ordonez set the final.

Ordonez was 6-for-8 on extra points in the game and finished with 12 points with the two field goals. He also intercepted a pass on defense in the final two minutes of the game.

Magnet Cove will be on the road Friday at Mountain Pine (3-3, 2-1).