Mike Easterling

Special to the Enquirer

Brewer entered Friday night’s home football game against Pell City looking to bag a Class 6A, Region 7 high school football game this season. After a big second-half rally, it appeared the Patriots might get their wish.

But victory proved to be out of reach, as the Panthers got a 27-yard field goal with 4:35 left in the fourth quarter for a 31-29 win – a result that left Brewer 2-3 overall and 0-3 in region play and head coach Geoff Walters frustrated.

“No doubt this is one that could have kept us in the march to the playoffs,” he said. “It’s still a possibility.”

Earning the school’s first playoff berth since 1999 is now more difficult. The Patriots visit Arab (1-4) this week.

“It’s a big rivalry game,” said Walters, “one of those you can throw the records out.”

Arab defeated Boaz 46-24 last week for the Knights’ first win. After playing Arab, Brewer entertains Fort Payne (3-1, 1-1) in its next region game. The Patriots defeated the Wildcats 34-9 last year for their first win in the series against six losses.

“Fort Payne – they’ll come here with a target on our backs after we went over there and beat them last year on homecoming,” Walters said.

The coach said the Pell City loss was frustrating for a variety of reasons, among them a botched punt catch that led to a seven-yard fumble return for a touchdown by the Panthers’ Joseph Horton. But the most agonizing mistake by the Patriots came after they had erased a 28-6 halftime deficit to take a 29-26 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Pell City completed a pass inside Brewer territory, and a personal foul penalty at the end of the play moved the ball into field goal range.

Sergio Alvarez then booted the winning points from 27 yards out.

“We’re not talented enough to make errors,’’ Walters said. “We’ve got to work on controlling the things we can control.’’

Quarterback Zack Self once again led the way for the Patriot offense. He rushed 28 times for 263 yards and two touchdowns and passed 147 on 14-of-26 accuracy with two more scores.