The Southside High School defense bent but never broke in the second half, helping a sputtering offense to a 20-15 win over Prattville Christian Academy.

Southside scored all its points in the first half behind explosive plays from senior Dequan Johnson.

Neither team started strong out of the gate. Southside lined up for what looked like the game’s fourth straight punt.

Instead, head coach Daniel Flowers called for a fake punt on his own 23 yard line, which was successfully executed by Johnson.

Southside was able to capitalize on the special team’s trickery a few plays later when the team found the end zone off a 17-yard-pass from quarterback G’Neil Johnson to wide receiver Keshawn Arrington with 11:22 to go before half.

That’s when the fireworks started in earnest.

After a Prattville Christian punt, Johnson and Johnson combined for a 70-yard touchdown pass.

Prattville Christian would get on the scoreboard when Dawson Roy returned an interception for the score. The turnover was one of three Southside had on the night, but the only one that lead to points for the visitors.

The score would stay 20-7 through the half, although Southside threatened to score again and got inside the 10 yard line before running out of time.

Somebody flipped the switch on Southside’s offense in the second half, and the team had to hold on as Prattville Christian came back and had numerous opportunities to take the lead.

Southside helped Prattville Christian with a safety in the third quarter. The visitors followed the subsequent possession with a touchdown drive capped by a 10-yard run by quarterback Tyler Bell. A missed PAT would leave the score at 20-15 with 3:53 to go in the third quarter.

That would be the final score for the night, but Prattville Christian kept the home crowd uncomfortable the entire fourth quarter.

Following the Prattville Christian touchdown, Southside punted and the visitors drove down the field, converting a 4th and 8 and 4th and 7 before turning the ball over on downs inside the red zone.

Southside enjoyed the breathing room but committed a nearly fatal mistake when the star-of-the-night Dequan Johnson fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Brady Taxton.

Prattville Christian drove down to inside the 1 yard line before getting backed up on back-to-back penalties and turning the ball over on 4th and goal from the 13.

Prattville Christian got the ball back one final time with 2:45 left to go in the game but had that drive snuffed out by a interception from Malik Johnson.

“We made too many mistakes. I have to teach the guys how to be more resilient when bad things happen,” said Southside Head Coach Daniel Flowers. “We won, but it almost feels like we lost. We were still on a high from the Selma High game so I’m glad this game is over.”

Southside beat Selma High School last week for the first time in 11 years.

“Anytime you are 2-0 you can’t ask for any more,” Flowers said.

Southside (2-0, 1-0) travels to Beulah next week in another regional matchup. The 2-0 start is the Panthers’ best since 2004, when the team jumped out to 4-0.