By Allen Hamrick
The Ravenswood Red Devils were packaged up and sent home Friday night as the Panther football team took the game to a whole new level. It was a easy win against Ravenswood; I’m not sure if they lost all their good players, but they didn’t look good against the Panther machine. The Panthers went down the middle, ran the perimeters, passed, caught, blocked, tackled and defended like it was as easy as taking a fireball from a snowman.
The Red Devils seemed to be in full destroy mode when they came to the field but were soon turned to help mode and asking themselves where the exit was. Their attitude quickly changed when they realized the Panthers would not be a pushover going into the final games of the season. It was a defensive and offensive slaughter as both sides of the Panther team were scoring TD’s.
The offensive line once again opened holes that trains could get through and gave Grant Krajeski plenty of time to throw the ball and the running backs time to do their thing. The defense, well what can you say? It was like watching a panther slowly eat its kill. The defense held the Red Devils to six points. The final score was Clay 63, Ravenswood 7.
In the game, Grant Krajeski went 12-15 for 190 yards. Elijah Payton ran for 199 yards on 14 carries, and Lucas Lynch ran for 116 yards on 19 carries. Each of them scored two TD’s. Caleb Atha caught five passes for 114 yards and two TD’s. He also racked up the points on a 75 yard return off a blocked field goal attempt. On the defense, it was Hunter Sizemore getting his name in the lights with a pass attempt gone bad. Hunter grabbed the attempted pass and took it 17 yards for the TD. It was a big night for the linemen, who are generally the ones who are the unseen heroes of the game. Colton Pritt grabbed two interceptions with one netting a TD. Gene Sams scooped up a fumble and ran over Ravenswood, taking it 41 yards for the TD. It was a great night to be on defense for sure. The team has found a good groove and no doubt are wishing they could have some of those games back they played early in the season.
The Panthers are on the move, and depending on the outcome of the dreaded color map for Covid-19, their final games of the season are up in the air at this point. They play at Grafton this Friday night in what should be a decent matchup. Their final game of regular season will be away against Braxton if the map holds up. Come out and support the Panthers on Friday night.