STANDISH-STERLING - Sep. 18, 2009 - Standish-Sterling needed a win Friday to keep realistic hopes of a playoff berth alive.

The Panthers needed every last clutch play they could manage against previously-unbeaten Cheboygan. But when Garrett Pierce made a diving catch of Mitchell McFarland's tipped pass in the second overtime, SSC had a much-needed victory that erased the frustration of two difficult losses that had the Panthers at 1-2 entering the contest.

"We had plenty of opportunities to cave in," said SSC coach Paul Walderzak. "But we played tough from start to finish."

Even without a pair of overtime touchdowns, the Panthers' 28 points in regulation was a vast improvement over the first three games, in which SSC managed just 23 points total.

"We've had a great couple of weeks of practice," Walderzak said. "Unfortunately we lost to Ogemaw, but that's a very good defensive team. We've been working very hard and the players have been taking ownership of the team.

"The past couple of weeks they've finally stepped up."

And not a moment too soon.

SSC seemed well on the way to salting the game away after Pierce's 10-yard touchdown run with 7:08 left. The Panthers were moving upfield and chewing up clock when a fumble cost them possession, and ultimately, the lead. Cheboygan responded with a 54-yard drive that ended with Dan Crusoe's 2-yard plunge up the middle  and Chris Jackson's PAT tied it with 1:46 left.

The Panthers, suddenly needing to score rather than just run out the clock, looked to be in trouble after Cheboygan picked off McFarland on a 2-and-18 pass play.

But Shawn Bialobrzeski bailed the Panthers out with an interception of a twice-deflected pass at the SSC 12, setting the stage for overtime dramatics.

The Chiefs drew first blood in overtime as Jake Tryban scored on his team's third play from scrimmage. 

SSC needed a touchdown to stay alive, and finally got it on 4th-and-10 as Kevin Reeves broke wide open at the goalline and collected McFarland's pass for the score. Trevor Trombley's PAT tied it at 35-35.

After holding the Chiefs out of the end zone on their second overtime possession, the Panthers faced a 3rd-and-15. McFarland's pass was batted in the air by a Cheboygan defender in the end zone, but Pierce made a diving grab to end the marathon contest.

It was a sweet finish for the Panthers, who lost their season-opener at Almont 9-7 on a field goal in the final minute and last week to Ogemaw Heights on a field goal in overtime.

"I think maybe we just got tired of getting kicked in the face," Walderzak said. "It was our time."

The game featured six lead changes and ties at 7-7, 21-21, 28-28 and 35-35. SSC scored in the first half on a 30-yard Trombley run, while Cheboygan answered with a 23-yard pass from quarterback Derek Ferris to Joe Scheele and a 14-yard Ferris run.

The Chiefs led 13-7 at the half.

McFarland connected with Reeves for a 13-yard scoring pass and with Cole Walderzak for a 47-yarder in the third quarter, while Cheboygan countered with 2-yard Crusoe run.

McFarland threw for four touchdowns and 121 yards, completing 9-of-17 passes.

"This was by far the best Mitchell has thrown the ball," Walderzak said.

Trombley had 127 rushing yards, including a long gain on a fake punt in the third quarter.

Zack Neid had 13 tackles and an interception, Alex Schmidt had 10 tackles and Tanner Mitrzyk added nine.

Crusoe led the Chiefs (3-1) with 70 yards on 11 carries, with Ferris completing 8-of-15 passes for 134 yards.

SSC (2-2) travels to Tawas Area (2-2) on Friday as the Panthers return to NEMC action.