One more time: Panthers fall to Florence in state football semifinals

For the second year in a row, Jefferson High’s football squad made it to the Class B state semifinals. And once again, they met up there with Florence-Carlton, which steamrolled the Panthers last November on its way to the state championship.

This year’s battle, Saturday in Florence, was much more competitive. But the upshot was the same: After a 40-23 defeat, the Panthers won’t be going to the championship game.

Jefferson came into this match-up with some confidence: The Falcons are a very strong side, but the Panthers beat them, 34-27, in the fourth week of the season.