Panthers hold on, run winning streak to 83

Tabor Maxwell threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores, and Pahranagat Valley’s football team stopped Thacher (Calif.) on a fourth-down play from the Panther 25-yard line with four seconds left to run their winning streak to 83 games with a 34-30 victory in Ojai, Calif.

Maxwell’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Culen Highbe with 1:18 left in the third quarter gave Pahranagat Valley (2-0) a 34-22 lead, but the Toads responded with a long touchdown pass with nine minutes left in the game.

Pahranagat Valley was driving for the clinching score with less than three minutes to play, but Christian Higbee fumbled the ball near the goal line, and Thacher recovered in the end zone for a touchdback.

Officials appeared to give Thacher (0-1) an extra down before the final play.

After the Toads picked up a first down at the Panther 23, a fumbled snap resulted in a loss of a yard.

A holding penalty on the next play backed up the Toads to the 34, and on second down, Reese Proctor overthrew a receiver. But after the play, the down marker was reset to second. A 9-yard run set up what should have been fourth and 12 from the 25.

Proctor’s pass was batted down, but the Toads still were given another play, and Laurence Jackson gained only five yards on a double reverse as Thacher turned the ball over on downs with four seconds left.

Shawn Wadsworth caught both of Maxwell’s touchdown passes.

“What a great game for us to come here and play,” said Pahranagat Valley coach Ken Higbee. “They are a big, physical team. The teams here, they are legit.”