The Clay High Panthers opened their first season game on the road against the Roane Raiders. The field was packed with fans to see two teams battle it out on the grid iron. The Panthers brought their A game and so did Roane. One could tell from the start it would be very physical; the Panthers gave as well as they took. The first half was all Raiders. The Panthers had good defense, and the offense had some opportunities but couldn’t seem to get it going their way. The Raiders went into the half with a really comfortable lead of 21-0. However, when the third quarter started, it was a different Panther team that hit the field. The theme of the second half was defense – the Raiders couldn’t move the ball in any direction. The Panther defense looked like bees in a honey hive. In the trenches, the Panthers owned the real estate, opening big holes. The Panthers offense came alive and scored two touchdowns. Zach Ahart scored on a long run, and Stephen Cole hauled in a pass from Austin Dobbins to make the score 14-24. The Panthers had one more chance at a score, but it wasn’t to be. It was a good game, and the very next week they took the same tenacity to Braxton County. Defense ruled the night and the offense pulled the rabbits out of the hat. It was an awesome display of defense. The Eagles of Braxton couldn’t move the ball in any direction with any consistency. The two times they got close to the end zone, the defense dug in and stopped it. The final blow was when Ian Smith sacked the Eagle quarterback in his own end zone for a safety, making the final score a 14-0 Panther win. It was a great win for the team going into next week. They will be on the road once again in Ritchie County. It will be a tough one, but this Panther team is on the move.
