By Allen Hamrick
The regular season ended for the Panther football team on Friday night as they took on the Eagles of Braxton at their own nest, and what a season it was. The 2024 season has been full of action down to the last minute of each game. The boys have given the best they had on every game and on every down as they have achieved a 7-3 season. Their only losses, including the one to Roane, were by just a few points. This season they finished up ranked 13th in AA ratings by the WVSSAC.
On Friday evening, the Panthers came out swinging for the fences and scored TDs as fast as you could gobble popcorn. The Eagles’ offense looked like they were trying to lasso bulls with a log chain against the Panther defense. The Noah Collins air show started early when he connected with Jacoby Nichols who took the pass into the end zone. Once the Panther offense got the taste of football blood in their mouth, it was off to the races. The Eagle defense had no answers for it in the first half, only stopping the Panthers a few times. On the infantry side of the Panther offense, Seth Robinson got some running time in for the Panthers and scored on a 25 yard run. By the time the half time flag was thrown, the Panthers led the game 27-0. The rest of the game was much like the first half with the Panther offense scoring and the Eagle defense still struggling to figure Panther offense out. In the end it was the Panthers winning their last game of the regular season 37-15.
With the win, the Panthers clinched a playoff berth, and from all indications will play #4 ranked Williamstown on November 15th at Williamstown. This is subject to change due to injunctions being filed with no final decision as of press time, so check with the school before committing to the road. It would be an understatement to say this has been a banner year for the Panther football team with all their success.
The Panthers are definitely a gang of brothers that left all they had on the gridiron this season, and will do it again on Friday night against whoever they play. No matter what happens, this season that will not be forgotten too soon. Congratulations to the players and coaches for an awesome season. We look forward to seeing what you will do in the playoffs. Go Panthers!
