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ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSupposed to not play,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Slone said, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œexcept for what happened in the first quarter.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Which was to say, rival Tolsia came out like gangbusters in their WVSSAC opening-round playoff game at Bob Brewer Stadium, and Tug Valley had to figure out how to stop it.

Enter Slone, who found himself called upon to make perhaps the most significant play of the game.

The Rebels, seeded 16th, held the ball for nearly the first nine minutes of SaturdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s game in taking an 8-0 lead over Tug Valley.

The Panthers countered that touchdown and 2-pointer quickly to tie the game, but Tolsia, intent on shortening the game with gritty ball control, set sail on what shaped up as another deliberately paced drive.

Looking to extend it, the Rebels faced fourth-and-1 from their own 48-yard line. Quarterback Luke Williamson took the snap and ran to his right ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ where Slone met him in the hole.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI just read it, and then I had to make a play on that one,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Slone said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œJust was not gonna let up another first down. Absolutely not.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Stopped for no gain. Turnover on downs. Momentum shifted.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt really just set the tempo for us,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Slone said, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œbecause I think if (Tolsia) got a first down and drove it down and scored, weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™d have been in a dogfight all game.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

The PanthersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ defense, rather, held the Rebels in check the rest of the way.

Tolsia didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t get within 29 yards of the Tug Valley goal line again the rest of the game, and Tug Valley scored 48 unanswered points to win 48-8 in running-clock fashion.

The turning point came from the PanthersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ senior linebacker, who did his best Willis Reed impression.

"It was huge,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Tug Valley coach Hady Ford said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThat's the leadership. ... We didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t play him the first series, and he comes in and everything just turns around. (Tolsia) stopped, and they didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t get very many yards after that.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the senior leadership that he has, and thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the advantage you have of having somebody (like him) on the field.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

SloneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s impact was, of course, also tangible. He finished with 11 tackles, four of them solo stops. He now has 90 tackles on the season and 36 solo.

Slone has also made offensive contributions to Tug ValleyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s high-powered run-pass-option attack. His three rushing touchdowns this season are second-most on the team.

He didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t carry the ball Saturday but was still responsible for points. He hit stud Rebels back Robert Evans in the Tolsia end zone for a safety.

"I was playing middle linebacker and I was mirroring Robert Evans,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Slone said, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œand I (saw) him swing out, and I knew it was going straight to him.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Evans eclipsed the 100-yard mark rushing, but Tug Valley kept him out of the end zone ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ and didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t let the Rebels so much as into the red zone after their first drive.

"We had to have momentum,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Slone said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe had to have intensity and had to come up and hit people and make tackles. We started slow today, and then progressed, and thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s it, really.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

With the win, Tug Valley improved to 11-0 for the first time ever. The Panthers will host Petersburg in the state quarterfinals on Saturday.

Slone called that distinction ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œexciting, thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s for sure.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s played more than his role in that Panthers push.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHe's a phenomenal linebacker,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Ford said of Slone, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œand to have him out on the field just makes you a better football team.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�