LANETT — The temperatures dropped from cold to brisk in Lanett’s second-round playoff matchup against Marengo, as the Panthers grinded out a low-scoring win, 14-6.

“I knew the field was muddy, and I knew we weren’t going to be able to throw that much because the ball was going to be wet,” Lanett senior quarterback Kristian Story said. “I just stood up, and did whatever it took in order for my team to win. If it took me to play defense the whole game, that’s what I’m going to do for my team to win.”

Playing defense is exactly what Story did in Friday’s win by reeling in three interceptions in the effort.

“He went in, and he wanted to lock up No. 8 [Marengo senior wide receiver Curtis Autery],” Lanett head football coach Clifford Story, Jr. said. “No. 8’s their best receiver, and through film preparation, they were throwing the ball a lot with him. So, he [Kristian] went in there, and made some huge interceptions, and we needed them because they were huge momentum shifters. Momentum was on their side, and those picks shifted the whole game.”

The first half was a tough one for both squads offensively, as Lanett junior wide receiver Quae Houston opened up scoring with a deep touchdown reception with 1:30 remaining in the first half.

Marengo opened the fourth quarter with a touchdown of their own to begin the fourth quarter, but their attempt to take the lead with a two-point conversion was stopped at the goal line by the Lanett defense.

In round one, senior Todricus Askew was the key player to step up and help fuel the Panthers to victory. On Friday night, that player was junior B.J. Smith.

Smith made a critical catch coming down the stretch that ultimately set up Kristian Story’s touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Trikweze Bridges with 3:42 to go in the ball game.

“He made some big plays when we needed him to,” Kristian Story said. “For him to be back, it was a big momentum thing for him to coming back into a game like that.”

Lanett will now travel to 11-1 Maplesville next week. The Red Devils are coming off of a 21-14 win over Georgiana Friday night.

“It’s going to be a hostile environment, it’s going to be a tough game, but hey that’s what it’s all about,” Coach Story said. “We live to see another week, and you want to be around when the grass is brown.”

At the end of Friday night’s game, Coach Story waved off his players from lining up to shake hands with Marengo after a heated matchup. He clarified his gesture was simply a precaution.

“We’ve had a lot of things happen to us in the past,” Coach Story said. “A lot of kids kept saying that they were trying to fight, and I’m not saying that they were going to do it, but I’d rather get my team off the sideline. I’ll go to the coaches, my staff, we talked to them, and got off the field. I just didn’t want to take any chances on if they were going to do it or not, but the kids said they heard it, so I had to go ahead and get my squad off the field.”