Late fourth-down tackle helps Pickerington North top rival Pickerington Central

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Friday night, Pickerington North defended home field against rival Pickerington Central, 17-3.

And it was the defense that played the biggest role.

With two minutes left in the fourth, the Panthers led 10-3. But senior linebacker Daunte Curtis stepped up, making a tackle at the line of scrimmage and forcing a fourth-and-5 from the 10-yard line with 1:42 left. Tigers quarterback Rocco Williams got his pass off on fourth down, but Curtis made the tackle on the receiver before he could pick up the first down.