EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – It was an evening of big plays when Excelsior Springs hosted Oak Grove Oct. 8 at Vic Bonuchi Field at Tiger Stadium.

The Panthers, however, made more big plays, handing the Tigers a 54-28 homecoming and Missouri River Valley Conference West Division loss.

Excelsior Springs struck first, as senior Lukas Shelton ripped off a 42-yard TD run less than two minutes into the ballgame to put the Tigers up 6-0. The Panthers answered with a drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock, capped by a 4-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion with 3 minutes, 15 seconds left in the first quarter.

Junior quarterback Chance Moreland put the Tigers up 12-8 with a 2-yard TD run with 10:15 left in the second quarter. The Panthers regained the lead on their next possession with a 7-yard TD run and two-point conversion.

The Tigers struck back shortly after that, with Moreland dashing for a 35-yard touchdown to make it 20-16 Excelsior Springs with 4:32 left in the half. That left enou…