by Steve Bradley
After the season opening loss last week, the focus of this week’s game in Granville was to get back on track by putting a W in the books. The Panthers were successful as four interceptions, three of which led to Panther scores, gave the team a big boost.
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Granville opened the scoring in the first quarter when a 66 yard, 14 play drive moved them briskly up the field. If Granville was going to move the ball all afternoon like they did on this drive, it was going to be a long afternoon for the Panther defense. The extra point try was no good.
After this drive, the Panther defense stiffened and never allowed the Horde access to the end zone again until late in fourth quarter.
The Panther offense struggled through the first quarter and early in the second. After a late second quarter interception by A.J. Hurlburt gave the Panthers the ball at their own 21, the Panthers moved upfield on a 10 play drive and scored on a 21 yard pass from quarterback Wyatt Cushman to Wyatt Whitman. The extra point try was no good and the score was tied at 6 at the halftime break.
The Panthers defense created another break in the third quarter when lineman Alex Hull tipped a pass attempt and Pascal Wilkins snagged the ball out of the air behind the line of scrimmage. Wilkins nimbly sidestepped the quarterback and rambled 51 yards to the Horde two yard line. Two plays later, Alex Mendez ran off the left side and crossed the goal line to give the Panthers a six point lead. The Panthers two point pass attempt was successful and the Panthers led, 14 – 6.
With several key players out due to injuries, Noah Conety, Conner McCart and Noah LaBarge among them, Alex Mendez was a busy guy on this day. He was a running back (9 / 37 yds., 1 TD), pass receiver (5 / 55 yds., 1 TD), kick off returner (1 / 16 yds.), punt returner (2 / 26 yds.), kick-off kicker (5), punter (a little shaky here – 5 / 4.4 yard average). On defense, Mendez had one interception and two tackles. It was rumored he was even seen filling the water bottles.
The Panthers got on the board one more time after a Wyatt Cushman interception gave the team the ball at the Horde’s 27 yard line. The four play drive ended with a TD when Mendez took a short pass from Cushman and ran the last 19 yards to paydirt for the score. The extra point try was no good.
Granville tacked on a late score with two minutes left in the game, but an unsuccessful onside kick attempt put an end to any Horde hopes of a comeback.
Wyatt Cushman went 9 of 14 for 104 yards through the air. Mendez totaled 127 all purpose yards on the day. Drew Hoag and Evan Hand each had three tackles on the D side of the ball, and Hurlburt, Cushman, Mendez and Wilkins had interceptions.
Hoosick Falls moves to 1 – 1, Granville falls to 0 – 2. In other Class C North action, Corinth (2-0) topped Hoosic Valley (1-1), 39 – 35, Greenwich (2-0) ripped Salem (0-2), 56 – 0, and Lake George (0-2) fell to Watervliet (1-1), 28 – 12.
This week, the Panthers travel to Lake George Friday, September 18, to take on the Warriors. Game time is 7 pm.[/private]