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North Huskies vs Reitz Panthers - at Bundrant Stadium Sept 13, 2024

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Game Recap

PANTHERS DROP BOMBS ON HUSKIES IN 28-12 LOSS

A pair of long touchdown passes staked Reitz to a first quarter lead they never relinquished in a 28-12 victory over North.  The Huskies were unable to turn three first half turnovers by the Mighty Panthers into anything more than six points and failed to rally.  Despite the Panthers’ first two quarterbacks being forced to leave the game with injuries, Reitz’ third option entered the game in the second half and threw for yet another touchdown.

OPENING SALVOS

North got a spectacular 48-yard opening kickoff return from junior Darian Walker that gave the Huskies the ball in Reitz territory.  A trio of Jason Rucker runs brought the ball to first-and-ten at the 29.  Four plays later, however, a ball sailed over senior Grant Happe’s head to fall incomplete and North turned the ball over on downs at the 23.

The Panthers responded and converted an early third-and-seven with a 49-yard pass that carried them to the North 25.  After seniors Zethan Colon and Matthew Pegram tackled a runner for a three-yard loss to bring up fourth-and-five at the 20, it appeared that the Huskies might escape the threat.  The Panthers tossed the ball into the end zone and a receiver with two defenders covering him made a great catch and the Panthers went up 7-0.

FUMBLE LEADS TO ANOTHER SCORE

The Husky offense ran just two plays before turning the ball over to Reitz.  A receiver took a short pass and turned up field but lost possession of the ball on the tackle and it became Panther ball at the North 42.  A holding penalty pushed Reitz back into their own territory, but two plays later their quarterback tossed a ball deep down the middle that hit a receiver in stride.  Two Huskies had chances to bring him down but the agile receiver left both in his tracks for a 52-yard touchdown strike.  Junior Ricky White got a hand on the extra point kick—just enough to deflect it—and the kick came up short.  North trailed 13-0 less than eight minutes into the game.

LAYNE RETURNS A PICK

North’s best early scoring opportunity occurred when junior Deamontey Layne leapt in front of a Panther target and picked off a pass at the North 46.  Dancing and dashing down the North sideline with the ball, only a desperation tackle by Reitz’ quarterback prevented a score.  North took over at the Reitz 11.  Unfortunately, three consecutive plays lost yardage for the Huskies and it led to a field goal opportunity from the 26-yard line that came up well short.

NORTH GETS ON THE BOARD

The Huskies’ next scoring opportunity came when senior Ethan Bowden recovered a Reitz fumble at their 39.  Junior Evan Garnett took a ‘jet sweep’ around right end for ten yards on first down and a pair of runs by senior Avier Mitchell carried the ball to the 15.  Senior Luke Grayson entered the game to play quarterback and the results continued.

On first down, a bobbled snap from center looked to spell disaster.  Grayson, however, had other thoughts.  Scooping the ball off the turf, he spotted an opening in the center of the line where senior Ben Brasher had pancaked the man in front of him.  Fellow senior Aiden Wargel had matched up with the middle linebacker and Grayson surged ahead through the opening the two created.  It took three defenders to bring him down at the one-yard line.

On the next snap, senior center Alex Wheeler and guard Brady Reeves created just enough of a crease in the defense for Grayson to dive across the goal line.  The extra point sailed wide-right and the Huskies had cut the lead to 13-6 with 8:27 to play in the half.

ANOTHER BOMB

The Mighty Panthers were not done with their aerial attack however.  After Brasher tackled a runner for loss at the Reitz 38, the Panthers were looking at third-and-ten.  If the Huskies could hold, it would likely shift momentum in the game in their favor and give them the ball back in good field position.

The Huskies did not hold.

Reitz executed a double pass play with their wide-receiver launching the ball 40 yards downfield.  Only Ricky White’s mad-dash downfield prevented a touchdown and the Panthers had a first down at the 12-yard line.  The North run-defense stiffened and forced a fourth down at the four-yard line only to have Reitz pass up a field goal opportunity and run the ball instead.  Their quarterback scurried untouched into the end zone and then completed a two-point conversion pass to go up 21-6 at half time.

SECOND HALF

With their starting quarterback out of the game due to an injury late in the first half, Reitz started the third period with their back-up at the position.  There was little noticeable change in their situation as they marched downfield with three consecutive first downs.  The Panthers encountered a problem, however, when their quarterback went down after completing a 16-yard pass for a first down at the North 18.  Helped off the field without the ability to put weight on his leg, Reitz’ third quarterback entered the game.

A holding penalty sent Reitz back to the 27 and Brasher and Bowden promptly dropped a runner for no gain on first down.  A second down pass fell incomplete and the Panther’s were facing the unenviable task of overcoming third-and-nineteen with their third-string quarterback.

The results were the same no matter who was at quarterback as a Reitz receiver streaked down the left sideline and the ball was delivered on target in the end zone.  With the extra point, the Panthers led 28-6 with 6:29 to play in the third quarter.

OFFENSE CAN’T FINISH

A pair of Husky drives drove deep into Reitz territory but failed to produce points.  On the first, a pair of Jason Rucker runs delivered the ball the Panther 33 with a first down.  A holding penalty and multiple incomplete passes resulted in a turnover on downs at the 43.

On the second drive, a Reitz pass interference call brought the Huskies to the Panther 48.  Grayson was re-inserted at quarterback and picked up another pair of first downs with runs in which he refused to be tackled by the initial defender.  North moved all the way to the 19 before a pair of passes fell incomplete and forced another turnover on downs.

FINALLY, A SCORE

The defense forced a pair of punts and the Huskies got the ball back at midfield with 2:15 to play.  A pair of Grayson runs moved the ball to the Reitz 32.  Senior Luke Tenbarge returned and hit Garnett with a pass at the 20 with under one minute to play.  Two more passes moved the ball to the two-yard line with four seconds to play.  Grayson returned and took the snap, faked a handoff, and barreled around right end with the flag clearly in his sights.  He shook off the initial defender to make contact and then pushed his way through a pair of tacklers for his second touchdown of the game to make the final 28-12.

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