Panthers ‘Light Up’ Banks County 38-6!

 

Union County Panthers vs Banks County Leopards

Varsity Football

September 15, 2017

Location: Blairsville, GA

 

Friday night was a very ‘colorful’ night for the Panthers, to say the least!  Some fans entered the stadium in bright neon colors and others in their own football jerseys/cheer outfits.  It was a Neon Night for the UCHS Student Section and also a night to recognize the Union County Recreation Department football players and cheerleaders.  

With the game proceedings beginning, the roar of the crowd became silent when the National Anthem was played and the captains were listed off over the intercom.  The UC captains for the game were: #8 Cole Wright, #11 RJ Banton, #76 Clay Carroll, and #34 Bryan Nelson.  Banks County won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball first.  

The Panthers, determined to continue to keep their undefeated streak for the season, showed their enthusiasm and scored first off a 1-yd pass from #8 Cole Wright to #22 Austin Pattee.  The kick from #36 Brian Smith was good making it 7-0 Panthers with 5:31 left in the first.

Realizing the talent they were up against, the Leopards put it into gear and worked their way down field.  On their third attempt at the 2-yd line, the Leopards put up 6 against the Panthers on a rush.  The kick was absolutely NO good due to a remarkable diving block by Panthers #2 Chayton Schafer!!  

This would be the only time the Leopards scored against the Panthers for the duration of the game.  

With something to prove, Panthers Junior #2 Chayton Schafer decided to show off his wheels and take a kickoff return up field.  Literally … up the field.  Remarkably, he zig-zagged his way up the right side and nearly to the endzone before he was tripped up by a Leopard player.  He fumbled the ball BUT a fellow Panther fell on the ball in the endzone, scoring yet another touchdown!  14-6 Panthers with 1:09 left in the first.

With the Panthers ‘ready to eat,’ they wasted no energy showing mercy to the Leopards.  In the second quarter the Panthers scored an additional three more touchdowns!  Two of which were made by Senior Quarterback #8 Cole Wright!  Wright, remaining completely untouched and headed in the right direction (pun intended), scored his first touchdown of the night off a 39-yd run. 21-6 Panthers with 10:02 remaining in the second!

With an amazing interception by #17 Pierson Allison the Panthers get the ball on the 8-yd line.  

#22 Pattee with a complete short pass, made it 3rd down with 3 to go for the Panthers. With incredible feel for the ball, #8 Wright, spotted an opening on the left-hand side and dove through some Leopards into the endzone to increase the score to 28-6 with 3:06 left in the second!

Moving quickly through the end of the first half, Panthers #8 Wright manages to advance upfield after a 17-yd cutback.  Panthers kicker #36 Brian Smith places a ball high and through the posts for a 26-yd field goal.  31-6 Panthers to end the half!

#21 Sawyer Drake broke free from his defender and was hit with a beautiful 5-yd spiral in the end zone for the final touchdown of the game with 6:32 left in the fourth.  FINAL: 38-6 Panthers!

 

 

 

TEAM STATISTICS

RUSHING – 267 yards         PASSING – 163 yards

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Panthers: #8 C. Wright 12-162 (2 TD); #24 C. Buzzard 12-61; #15 C. Dockery 9-28; #14 R. Barrett 1-10; #17 P. Allison 1-6 Total: 267 Rushing Yards

PASSING — Panthers: #8 C. Wright 13/23, 163 (2 TD) Total: 163 Passing Yards

RECEIVING — Panthers: #18 L. Dyer 3-48; #22 A. Pattee 6-40 (1 TD); #4 K. Hemphill 1-40; #2 C. Schafer 1-15; #84 K. Morlock 1-15; #21 S. Drake 1-5 (1 TD)

TACKLES — Panthers: #11 R. Banton 6; #32 J. Colwell 5; #12 S. Dobbins 5; #34 B. Nelson 4; #53 M. Beise 3; #2 C. Schafer 2; etc.

With another win under their belt, the Panthers look forward to hosting Greater Atlanta Christian (GAC) for their first conference game of the season on September 22, 2017 at 7:30PM.  The Panthers are now 4-0 for the season!  Please note that this Friday will also be Homecoming!

Also, support the Panthers JV team this Thursday, September 21, 2017 as they face the White County Warriors on the road at 5:30PM!  The JV Panthers are 1-0 currently!