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North Huskies vs Reitz Panthers - at Reitz Bowl Sep 08, 2023

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Offense

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Game Recap

HUSKIES CAN'T OVERCOME FAST PANTHERS START IN 24-7 LOSS

A pair of long touchdown passes on their first two possessions of the game gave the Mighty Panthers of Reitz all the momentum they needed in a 24-7 victory over North at The Bowl Friday.

GAMES CAN BE LOST EARLY

The adage is that games are seldom won in the first quarter, but they can be lost.  The adage was likely true for the Huskies when, in lightning succession, Reitz put two touchdowns on the board in the first six minutes of the contest.  The Huskies ‘caught a break’ when a 31-yard touchdown pass off of a reverse was called back for a procedural issue only to have a defender fall down in one-on-one coverage on the next play resulting in a Panther 36-yard score.

North suffered a low snap on first down on their ensuing possession and were unable to overcome the five-yard loss and punted the ball out past midfield.  On Reitz’ first play following the punt, the same receiver was tightly covered as he streaked down the field but the ball was slightly underthrown.  The Panther receiver ‘won’ the jump ball at the 10-yard line against the North defender and he streaked into the end zone to make the score 14-0.

From that point in the game, it was a contest between two evenly matched teams, but the damage was done and the Huskies could never overcome the deficit.

HOSPELHORN BREATHES LIFE INTO THE OFFENSE

Husky hopes were brought to life again when senior Kasey Hospelhorn found a seam in the Reitz zone and caught a pass from Sam McKinney at the Reitz 40-yard line.  Hospelhorn dodged two defenders and made his way to the three-yard line before being brought down.  Three plays later, junior Ben Brasher and senior Delshan Davis wedged open a space in the Panther defense and McKinney dove into the end zone.  Senior Alex Hess’ kick brought the score to 14-7.

PANTHERS ALL-PURPOSE PLAYER SCORES AGAIN

The Husky defensive front proved yet again that it is the elite unit in the city this season.  On the night, Reitz would gain just 49 yards on 31 carries—no Husky opponent has broken through the 100-yard barrier as a team yet this season.  Against the Panthers, however, the North defensive backfield came up against a squad with a receiver they could not contain.  Faced with third-and-eleven on their 22 on their next possession, the same receiver that had scored both touchdowns wriggled his way into space and picked up 36 yards into North territory.  The same receiver picked up 16 yards just three plays later and following a face-mask penalty on the tackle, Reitz had first down at the North 15.  After a pair of running plays gained just three yards, another Husky penalty gave Reitz first and goal.  The ensuing play saw the receiver lined up behind center at quarterback and he took the snap and ran into the end zone to make the score 21-7 with 8 minutes to play in the half.

HUSKY O-LINE ANSWERS THE CALL

As the Huskies have done so often this season, they relied upon the offensive line to pull them back into scoring position.  Following a Jason Rucker kickoff return out to the 33-yard line, North battered away at the Reitz front seven with effective results.  Ten consecutive running plays delivered the Huskies to the Reitz nine with first and goal.  North appeared poised to answer Reitz’ ‘blitzkrieg’ offense with a juggernaut drive that ate up six minutes off the clock.

And then the Huskies were called for a holding penalty.

Unfazed by the extra yardage, North threw its first pass of the drive and Hospelhorn scampered into the end zone on a toss from McKinney.

And then the Huskies were call for another holding penalty.

Unfazed by the extra yardage, senior Cainen Northington took the ball around end for a nice gain to put the ball at the 11-yard line and a chance for the Huskies to put up points.  When North lined up to pass, it was apparent that the Reitz defensive backfield was in disarray and the Panthers took a time out.  The Huskies came out of the break, lined up, and again appeared to have a pre-snap advantage.

And then the Huskies were penalized for an illegal substitution.

25 yards of penalties after arriving at the Reitz nine-yard line were just too much to overcome and an incomplete pass gave the Panthers the ball on downs.

Starting from deep in their territory with two minutes to play in the half, Reitz made it quickly up field on the strength of a 15-yard penalty against North for a late hit that was initiated in-bounds and another 15-yard penalty for a face mask.  Reitz kicked a 30-yard field goal on the final play of the half to make the score 24-7 and seal the Huskies fate.

After making first and goal at the Reitz nine with three minutes and thirty seconds to go in the half, North was whistled for six penalties totaling 57 yards in just ten plays.

SECOND HALF

Rucker received the opening kickoff and returned it out past the 31-yard line.  The Huskies drove downfield on nine consecutive runs and had first and goal at the three when disaster struck.  A bad exchange between the center and the quarterback yielded a turnover to the Panthers.  Reitz would take advantage of two more penalties by North to assist them in converting third downs and keep their ensuing drive alive.  The drive stalled however, when senior Kaleb Harris recorded his second quarterback sack of the game forcing the Panthers into a certain passing situation and senior Kaleb Vashon intercepted Reitz’ pass at the North 39.

The remainder of the game was a defensive struggle with the two teams exchanging punts and neither able to produce another scoring threat.  For his part, Harris would demonstrate his amazing combination of speed and strength by stopping three runners for loss in the backfield and recording THREE quarterback sacks in the contest.  The North offense was unable to convert critical third downs in the fourth quarter and the game ended at 24-7.

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