​CALLAWAY, Fla. — With their backs against the wall and victory slipping away, the Panama City Panthers refused to fold.The local semi-pro football team had overcome adversity before, but none greater than the 18-0 halftime deficit it faced against the defending Gridiron Developmental Football League champion Huntsville Rockets.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMosley youth camps Mosley hosts free youth football speed and agility campBay County coaching legend remembered Bay County mourns legendary coach Don DeatonPanthers head coach Ty Steele delivered a simple message at halftime: Play with pride, and the team would win the game.The Panthers responded immediately.The offense opened the second half with a methodical scoring drive that ended when quarterback Victor Smith connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide reciever Cordell Broy in the back corner of the end zone for a highlight-reel toe-tap catch.Smith then ran in the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 18-8.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Panthers’ defense took over from there. Defensive end Adebanji Bamidele recorded a key tackle for loss to force the Rockets into a punting situation.Defensive back Marjoune Dean blocked the punt, allowing Bamidele to recover the loose ball in the end zone for the first touchdown of his semi-pro career.The Panthers scored 14 unanswered points to trim the deficit to four entering the fourth quarter.The offense needed one more big play, and veteran running back Tyliek Mears delivered.One of the franchise’s founding players, Mears came through in the clutch. On fourth down, Smith found Mears on a short pass, and the veteran running back raced and cut through the Rockets 36 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, giving Panama City a 20-18 lead.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Panthers’ defense made the lead stand, and the offense ran out the clock to complete the comeback and secure the team’s second GDFL victory of the season.Panama City will travel to face the Alabama Aviators on July 18.Adebanji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Panthers football stages historic comeback