Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Friday night, the Ariton Purple Cats (5-4, 4-2) clinched their spot in the Class 2A Playoffs with a wild 49-42 win over the Wicksburg Panthers (4-4, 4-2).

Ariton senior Ian Senn was nearly unstoppable for the Purple Cats, earning 506 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns in the win. Senn completed 18-of-30 passes for 227 yards and five touchdowns, while also piling up 279 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Senn also converted a pair of two-point conversions and earned eight tackles on defense.

With Ariton trailing 28-20 at halftime, Wicksburg intercepted an Ariton pass and returned it 64 yards to put the Panthers up 35-20. After Ariton turned the ball over on downs, Wicksburg seemed poised to break the game open but the Ariton defense held and forced its own turnover on downs.

Senn started the rally with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Leger to cut the lead to 35-27 late in the third quarter. Senn then threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Caple and Senn’s two-point conversion tied the score 35-35 going into the fourth quarter.

After another fourth down stop for the Ariton defense, Senn scored on a 23-yard run to give Ariton a 41-35 lead with 7:22 left. Wickbusrg answered with a 6-yard touchdown run to retake the lead 42-41 with less than five minutes remaining.

Ariton marched deep into Wicksburg territory with under two minutes to play and Senn capped off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion to give the Purple Cats the 49-42 lead. The Ariton defense earned yet another fourth down stop to secure the win and a playoff spot.

Also having a big night for Ariton was Lawson Leger with five catches for 117 yards and three touchdowns, while Jayden Caple caught five passes for 58 yards and a score. Mylers Tyler also caught five passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. Tanner Johnston led the Ariton defense with 12 tackles and one tackle-for-loss, while Tyler earned 11 tackles and Tristan McGuire tallied 10 tackles and a tackle-for-loss.