by Steve Bradley
The HFCS Panther football team hosted the Corinth Tomahawks last Friday evening. The Tomahawks came in with high hopes of winning the game. They were sporting a 3 – 1 record against quality opponents. They were averaging 350 yards per game on the ground. Their defense was keeping opponents out of the end zone.
It was decided to play the game anyway just in case Hoosick Falls could pull it out.
The game opened with Damon Dubois booming the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. It was one of four kickoff touchbacks Dubois had on the night.
Corinth took over at their 20 and began moving down the field. Gaining 3 to 6 yards a play, they steadily advanced. From their own 37 yard line, a 16 yard run to the left brought the Tomahawks to the Panthers’ 47. The quarterback called his own number and at the snap took off around the right side of his line. He ran untouched to the Panthers’ 20 where he pitched the ball back toward his running back. The back never got a hold of the ball, and it fell to the ground where Panther Alex Mendez jumped on it and gave possession to the Panthers.
With the ball now in Panther possession at their own 17, a quick pass from quarterback Garrett Wright to Mendez moved the ball forward seven yards. On the next play Wright handed the ball to back Colby Davendonis who went up the middle for 78 yards to the Corinth five yard line. With a little help from the referee determining Davendonis did not fumble during the tackle, the ball stayed at the five in Panther possession. From here, Wright passed to uncovered tight end Mark Hackett in the end zone for a score. Dubois drove home the extra point and the Panthers were first on the board, 7 – 0.
Again starting from their 20 yard line, the Tomahawks moved the ball just over 30 yards to midfield before punting. Mendez’s runback put the ball just into Corinth territory. The Panthers worked their way to the Corinth 17 yard line, but fourth down and 10 to go came up and the drive ended with a missed field goal.
Corinth took over at the Panther 20. Three plays later they were still at the 20. That was, for them, the good news. The bad news was they had to punt, and this is where the Tomahawks’ kicking game nightmare began. Corinth’s punter used a five step kick, which is really great if you are an opposing player trying to block that punt. When the punter used all five of those steps to run right at oncoming Panther Connor McCart, McCart thanked him by blocking the punt. The ball slipped out of the end zone before it could be claimed for a touchdown, giving the Panthers a safety and two more points. It was the third week in a row the Panthers had scored points on a safety, an unbelievable feat. A safety not only gives you two points but also gives you the ball with a kick from the opponent’s 20 yard line.
With a Corinth 19 yard kick to the Tomahawks 39, the Panthers took advantage of the short field. A seven play drive, much of it on a 21 pass with a nice catch by Davendonis, put the Panthers at the Corinth six yard line. From there Austin Pitt went around the left side and scored. With the PAT the Panthers led 16 – 0.
The Panthers got the ball again after Corinth turned the ball over on downs at the Panther 15 yard line. The Panthers executed a nice 10 play drive with a combination of passes and rushes that ended when Pitt went in on the ground from nine yards out. Dubois’ extra point was good and the Panthers led, 23 – 0.
Corinth was able to get on the board after a nice drive. The drive was capped by a 41 yard pass play for the touchdown. The highlight of Corinth’s kicking game on the evening was having the kicked extra point klunk off the crossbar and fall on the far side for the point to count. The game went into halftime with the score at 23 – 7.
The second half saw Corinth unable to tack any more points on the board. The Panthers added one more touchdown on a one yard dive by Davendonis. This last touchdown was set up by another blocked punt. The punter, now using a two step punt, punted the ball into oncoming Pascal Wilkin’s outstretched hands. The punter fell on the ball, and the Panthers took over at Corinth’s 17 yard line. Two plays later the Panthers led 30 – 7. The score held for the remainder of the game.
Wright ended the game 10 of 18 for 135 yards, with 1 TD and 2 interceptions. Davendonis continued his romping up and down the field with 156 yards on 12 carries. Pitt added 102 hard earned yards on 19 carries. On the defensive side of the ball, Mark Hackett had 14 tackles, with Evan Hand getting 11. The defense caused five Corinth fumbles, gaining possession of two of them. The Panthers are now 2 – 0 league, 5 – 0 overall. Dating back to 2009, the Panthers now have an unbelievable 54 straight Section II victories.
Next week the Panthers travel to 3 – 1 Greenwich on Friday, October 10. The Witches only loss came at the hands of Corinth.