A pair of juniors led Springville to its first non-losing regular season record since 2011 with a 31-28 overtime win against Pell City.

Mahlon Alverson and Jake Conner combined for 239 rushing yards with Alverson scoring three touchdowns, including the game-winner, and Conner adding a two-point conversion pass with 112 rushing yards.

Alverson rushed for 127 yards on 35 carries with touchdown runs of 1, 18 and 6 yards, the 1-yarder proving the clinching score for the Tigers (5-5).

“This is the best feeling,” Alverson explained. “I couldn’t have come up a better time to do it than senior night.”

Alverson’s heroics were set up after Conner recovered his own fumble at the 1-yard line.”

“The play of the game was Jake Conner recovering the fumble to give a chance to win,” Springville coach Jon Clements said. “Mahlon and Conner are two reasons for our success. We want the ball in their hands when the game is on the line.”

The Panthers (1-9) were led by Jon Creel’s two touchdown runs of 4 and 5 yards. Caleb Gross found Tyler Kurzejeski on an 18-yard touchdown pass.

Game ball: Kayden Hanrahan picked up a partially blocked punt and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown.

They said it: “We aren’t ready to win. We aren’t invested in winning now. They whipped our butts tonight.” — Pell City coach Rush Propst.

Coachspeak: “Our coaches did a heck of a job keeping our kids focused. After celebrating our first playoff appearance in 14 years, it was very hard to get back down to Earth.” — Clements.

Up next: Springville will travel to Guntersville in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.