Staff Reports

ONEONTA – Spring Garden’s Brady Ruark ran for 90 yards on 20 carries and scored a 2-point conversion. He was also 8-of-17 passing for 90 yards, but the Panthers fell at Appalachian 20-8 in Class 1A, Region 8 football action on Friday.

Appalachian (7-0, 3-0) took a 7-0 lead with a touchdown on the final play of the first quarter.

Clayton Sadler scored the Panthers’ lone touchdown on a 6-yard run with 38 seconds remaining in the first half. Ruark added the 2-point conversion run to give Spring Garden (4-3, 2-2) an 8-7 advantage at halftime.

Sadler also led Spring Garden’s receivers with three catches for 34 yards.

Appalachian regained the lead with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter. The Eagles added another score with 1:50 to go for the final.

Colton Driskell led the Panther defense with 12 tackles and a sack. Cayden Thompson tallied nine tackles. Ben Baker, Zane Edwards, Bryant Williams, and Brody Lemons each finished with eight stops. Baker also had a sack.

Spring Garden hosts Gaylesville on Friday.