The Model Blue Devils would make the GHSA state playoffs for the second time in three years and hosting a playoff game against the Union County Panthers on Friday night. 

Union County would receive the opening kickoff, however they wouldn’t move the ball but four yards before giving the over to the Blue Devils. 

It took them only two plays to get in Panthers territory. After two more plays, the Blue Devils suddenly found themselves in the red zone, before they would score from 1 yard out to claim a 7-0 lead early in the 1st quarter.

The Panthers would get a first down on the ensuing drive, then had a decision to make on the next set of downs: go for a conversion on 4th and 1 or punt the ball away to the Blue Devils yet again. They chose to go for it and converted to set up a fresh set of downs. 

The conversion would prove to be a much-need confidence booster for the offense, as they would score from nine yards out later to  tie the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter.

The Blue Devils would get a first down on the next drive, but that was it as they would punt the ball away four plays later.

Two plays later later, a 66-yard touchdown pass would set the Panthers up with a first and goal at the four yard line. On 3rd and goal, they would find the end zone for the second time of the night, making the score 14-7 in favor of the Panthers.

On the next drive, the Blue Devils would get their passing game rolling early, but quarterback Jake Sanders would throw an interception on 3rd and 9 to give the Panthers the ball back at their own 20-yard line. 

The Blue Devils defense would allow another little long third down conversion early on in the Panthers drive, and again resulting in the Panthers  finding the end zone, this time by way of a 46-yard pass. The Panthers would go up 21-7.

Desperately looking to stay in the game, the Blue Devils would have to take the ball 70 yards to get back to being a one possession game. 

However they would only find three yards in three plays, resulting in a punt. The Blue Devils would take out everyone in the stadium as they would pull off a fake punt to get into the red zone. On 3rd and goal from the two-yard line, the Blue Devils would fumble the ball away to give the Panthers one more chance to drive down the field before the end of the first half.

 The Blue Devil defense would force a punt after three plays to now give them an opportunity. 

A penalty would set the Blue Devils up with a first down on the 14-yard line with 24 seconds left in the first half. Two runs by quarterback Jake Sander would ultimately give the Blue Devils a touchdown and sharing the Panthers lead down to 21-14 with just ten seconds before halftime. The Panthers would take a knee to run out the clock and head to halftime.

Looking to continue the offensive momentum from the first half, the Blue Devils offense would be on the field for two plays, ultimately throwing an interception and giving the Panthers  a drive that started deep in Blue Devil territory. 

The Panthers could not capitalize on the good field position, turning the ball over on downs after a failed 4th and 20 conversion. 

The two teams would trade three-and-outs bring the game to the midway point in the third quarter. Then the Blue Devils seemed to gain a little momentum in the passing game, getting to the Panthers 30-yard line. 

However, all hope seemed loss on an offensive pass interference call that put the Blue Devils back to a 2nd and 21 situation. Then, the Panthers got called for a face mask penalty on the very next play to put the Blue Devils back in Panthers  territory with a 2nd and nine situation. 

A sack on 3rd and 5 would bring up a 4th and 14, which the Blue Devils wouldn’t be able to convert, giving the Panthers the ball back. A defensive pass interference call after an interception would put the () deep in Blue Devil territory. The Panthers would score on a 4th down play from the 17-yard line, putting them up 28-14.

The () would start the fourth quarter with the ball, knowing that if they could make it a three possession game that it would be all but over for the Blue Devils. However, the Blue Devils would get a much needed interception that would give their offense a shot to get back in the game. 

Facing a 4th and 4 from their own 34-yard line, the Blue Devils would extend their drive. They would punt four plays later, giving the ball back to the Panthers  at their own 20-yard line. With just six and a half minutes left, the Blue Devils needed a quick stop, they would get one, but the Panthers  would run the clock down to just over four minutes left and forcing the Blue Devils to use all three of their timeouts. 

The Blue Devils had four minutes to score 14 points, so they had to move the ball quickly. They were able to drive into the red zone, but a turnover on downs would ultimately seal the fate for the Blue Devils. The Panthers would get the ball back with three minutes left, trying to run as much clock as possible. They would run it down to exactly one minute left before punting the ball away to the Blue Devils. An interception on third down would be the fate-sealer for the Blue Devils, as the Panthers  would run two plays to make the clock hit all zeroes, winning the game 28-14.