SPRING GARDEN – Spring Garden senior Trey Littlefield rushed for 151 yards, scored three touchdowns and blocked a punt to set up the Panthers’ first score of the night in a 49-0 homecoming win over Skyline on Friday.

The win clinched the third playoff spot in Class 1A, Region 6 for the Panthers (5-4, 5-2). It’s the first time Spring Garden has ever claimed back-to-back playoff appearances.

“That’s big,” Panther head coach Jason Howard said. “I’m real proud of this group for building on what we did last year. We’ve still got to wait and see who we’re going to play and what we’re going to have to do to prepare.”

As Howard mentioned, the Panthers don’t know their playoff opponent yet. That’s because there’s a three-way tie for first place in Region 5 with Appalachian (7-2), Coosa Christian (8-1) and Victory Christian (8-1).

All three schools have 6-1 region records, so tiebreakers will be necessary to determine their seeding. Those won’t be completed until next Friday when the regular season ends.

Regardless, the Panthers will be on the road for their first-round playoff game on Nov. 6.

Against Skyline (1-8, 1-6), Littlefield got the Panthers going in the first quarter after blocking a punt. Zach Matthews scooped the ball up and scored, giving Spring Garden a 7-0 lead.

Littlefield then added his three rushing touchdowns. Jake Scott tallied two more scores on the ground in the rout.

Scott finished the night rushing for 96 yards on just four carries. Quarterback Tyler Smart completed 3-of-4 passes for 46 yards. T.J. Brittain led the Panther defense with 14 tackles.

Spring Garden led at the half, 28-0.

The Panthers close out the regular season next Friday at Sand Rock.