Joe Imel/Daily News Greenwood’s Hunter Thompson (left) is brought down Friday by Meade County’s Alec Goodhart during the Gators’ 28-13 victory at GHS. Click here for more photos from Friday’s high school football games.

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Greenwood coach Mark Nelson said he panicked during some tough times in last weekend’s loss at Allen County-Scottsville.

Consider it a lesson learned, just in time for district play.

Click here for more photos from Friday’s high school football games.

The Gators rallied for a 28-13 win over Meade County in the teams’ Class 6A, District 2 opener, scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half after a 13-7 halftime deficit.

Aside from picking up a critical district victory, the Gators (4-2 overall, 1-0 district) ended a two-game slide by overcoming some troubles Friday.

“I panicked last week as a coach and they saw it in my eyes,” Nelson admitted. “This time when things went wrong, I didn’t get on them so bad. They persevered.”

There were times when panic was warranted, especially when the Gators clung to a 14-13 late in the third quarter.

Meade County’s Thomas Wilson returned a GHS fumble 65 yards to the GHS 15 before a touchdown-saving tackle by quarterback Ty Downing.

The tackle proved to be invaluable as Greenwood’s defense forced Meade County to settle for a failed 31-yard field goal attempt.

Meade County (0-5, 0-1) had another shot at the lead when it reached the Greenwood 25-yard line on its ensuing drive. But two holding and offsides penalties pushed the Greenwave all the way back to a second-and-46 situation, where it got no closer.

“We didn’t panic,” Nelson said. “The kids didn’t, the coaches didn’t and it’s a big win for this football program.”

Meade County coach Larry Mofield had likely already seen enough with its failed opportunities, but it got worse for the Greenwave.

Greenwood put away the Greenwave with two late fourth quarter touchdowns, including a stunning score when Hunter Thompson turned a short Downing pass into a 71-yard touchdown reception on a third-and-29 play with 6:36 left in the game for a 21-13 GHS lead.

Hunter Nevaras sealed it with a 3-yard touchdown with 2:05 remaining, set up by Michael Madison’s blocked punt.

“It was a meltdown,” Mofield said. “Greenwood did a good job and I did a poor job of preparing the team. I didn’t have us ready to play and make plays in the second half.”

Thompson’s score was Greenwood’s second improbable touchdown of the day. The Gators grabbed a 7-0 lead on their second offensive play of the night when Downing hit Nehemiah Mkanta for an 83-yard touchdown pass on a second-and-25. Mkanta ran a slant pattern and outran the Meade County defense.

“We had some great personal efforts tonight,” Nelson said.

Greenwood had to beat Meade County through the air because it managed little on the ground. The Gators rushed for minus-5 yards, but Downing was 11-for-21 for 252 yards and three touchdown passes.

Mkanta had two touchdown receptions and five catches for 122 yards. Thompson had two receptions for 96 yards.

“The films we had on (Meade County), we thought we could throw,” Nelson said. “We want to get our running game going. But Ty was throwing strikes tonight.”

Downing’s 6-yard strike to Mkanta with 5:44 left in the third quarter was the eventual game-winning score. The touchdown pass came after Greenwood fumbled inside the 50 on its first play of the second half, but held Meade County to a three-and-out. The Gators then went 78 yards on 10 plays for the score.

“They didn’t give me much pressure, the line blocked great and just gave me time to see the receivers down field,” Downing said. “And great catches and great runs. You couldn’t ask for anything more (as a quarterback).”

Fullback Tyler Crow had two short, second-quarter touchdown runs for Meade County. He finished with 15 carries for 56 yards. Meade County had 259 yards of offense, but only 59 in the second half.

“Defensively, we played tough,” Nelson said. “We did a lot of good things. We’re going to enjoy this one because it gets us off a two-game losing streak and it’s our first district win and that’s big for us.”

MCHS 0 13 0 0 - 13

GHS 7 0 7 14 - 28

First quarter

GHS - Nehemiah Mkanta 83 pass from Ty Downing (Lee Hargis kick), 7:15.

Second quarter

MCHS - Tyler Crow 2 run (kick failed), 10:55.

MCHS - Crow 4 run (Michael Clinkscales kick), 4:26.

Third quarter

GHS - Mkanta 6 pass from Downing (Alex Belt kick), 5:44.

Fourth quarter

GHS - Hunter Thompson 71 pass from Downing (Belt kick), 6:36.

GHS - Hunter Nevaras 3 run (Belt kick), 2:05.