HIGHLAND, KANSAS -- In search of their first victory of the season, the Ellsworth Panthers took a 27-10 second-half lead over Highland CC on Saturday, only to see the Scotties run off 27 unanswered points to grab a 37-27 win over ECC.

Ellsworth put 20 points on the scoreboard in the first quarter and after Joshua Bauer hit Malcolm Gillie with a 9-yard touchdown pass in the 3rd period, the Panthers were seemingly in control with their 17-point advantage.But Highland scored on each of their next 2 possessions in the 3rd quarter to cut the deficit to 27-23 and the hosts then went ahead on a TD pass in the final period.  The Scotties added an insurance score in the 4th quarter and stopped 2 ECC drives with interceptions to cement the win.

The Panthers began the scoring after they intercepted a pass in the opening quarter.  Bauer hit Eghogho Eyafe on a 66-yard TD strike for the early lead.  A possession later in the opening stanza saw Bauer complete 5 passes before Ernesto Rios capped the drive with a 12-yard run to push the score to 14-0.  After HCC got their first points on a field goal, Ellsworth padded their lead with a Bauer 55-yard scoring scamper on the 3rd play of the subsequent drive.  Highland came right back with a TD run to make it 20-10 after one quarter.

Following a scoreless 2nd period, the Panthers added to their lead on a Bauer-to-Gillie touchdown pass from 9 yards out in the 3rd quarter and ECC was rolling, on top 27-10.  But it was all Highland after that, the Scotties getting those 2 TDs in the 3rd and 2 more in the 4th quarter.

Bauer had a big day throwing the football, completing 32-of-53 passes for 294 yards and the 2 touchdowns.  He also helped the ECC running attack, which had been largely non-existent in recent games, gaining 74 yards on 6 carries.  Rios ran for 68 yards in 5 attempts and Trent Lane added 45 yards on 11 tries.  Eyafe hauled in 5 passes for 130 yards, Keith Allen caught 7 for 62 and Gillie grabbed 6 tosses for 48 yards and a TD.  Micah Hobin, Dominic McCarren, Austin Ayobamidele, Chris Ndushabandi, Rios and Lane also caught passes for the Panthers.

Dedric Flint and Michael Acri each had 6 solo tackles, Acri and Kmari Watson recorded sacks and Nashon Johnson and Watson both forced fumbles.

The Panthers go back to Kansas for their next contest, a road game at Dodge City CC next Saturday.