As it turned out, Truman needed the 34-yard touchdown run by senior Jordan Salima with 10:34 left in the game to secure a 27-21 victory over Park Hill South Friday night at William Chrisman High School.

The win lifted Truman to 5-1.

“I thought the game was over, but I knew we couldn’t ease up and that’s what we did,” said Salima, who had 33 rushes for 186 yards in the game. “We have to work on that in practice and execute next week.”

Salima’s fourth touchdown of the game gave the Patriots a 27-0, but that’s when the Park Hill South came alive.

The Panthers showed their fight by scoring a touchdown 2 minutes after Salima’s fourth score on a 1-yard run by junior quarterback Zach Suchanick. On the next play from scrimmage, Park Hill South junior defensive back Dillon Thomas picked up a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.

The Panthers then recovered an onside kick. They drove for another touchdown, scoring on a 1-yard run by Suchanick with 4:58 left in the game. That cut Truman’s lead to 27-21.

After giving their fans a scare, the Patriots returned the kickoff to Park Hill South’s 28. Behind Salima, Truman put the game away, running out the final 4:40.