Providence played probably its most solid game of the season Friday against South Mecklenburg, but it was a couple of trick plays that the homecoming crowd went home talking about as the Panthers (4-3 overall, 2-1 Southwestern 4A) shut out the Sabres (3-4, 0-3) 28-0 .
Providence was leading 7-0 late in the second quarter and driving when South Meck called timeout.
On the first play out of the timeout, quarterback Chauncey Concepcion pitched to receiver Damon Magazu, who ran to the right, then pulled up and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Matt Hickson in the right corner of the end zone with 1 minute, 21 seconds left in the half.
“We put that play in this week,” Panthers coach Randy Long said. “We knew we were going to use it at some point, and they executed it to perfection.”
Leading 14-0 at halftime, Providence caught South Meck with an onside kick to open the third quarter as Matt Pickett recovered at the Sabres' 45.
Concepcion led Providence into the red zone, then hit Brandon Braxton for an 18-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 21-0.
South Mecklenburg runs a ground-oriented option attack. The Sabres' best chance to score came late in the third when they drove from their 21 to the Panthers' 12 . But three Tim Palmer runs pushed the ball only 2 yards closer, and on fourth down, Providence forced quarterback Cody Keith to throw incomplete.
Concepcion was 17-for-23 passing for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Three Panthers players caught at least five passes, and the defense posted its first shutout of the season.
“That's a tough offense to play against and to come away with a shutout.
“I'm tickled,” said Long, whose team is host to Independence next week. “You have to know your keys on defense and stay home and our defense showed tremendous discipline.”
South Mecklenburg dropped its third straight game, and will play at Weddington next week.
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