It was opening night for the Panther football team as they took their show on the road to Gilmer County to take on the Titans.
The air was cool and crisp, a perfect night for football. The single A Titans were coming off a 10-0 season last year, and hoped that they would offer the Panthers their first loss of the year. However, it was not to be for the Titans. They were only able to dress 16 players, but you can’t always judge a book by its cover.
The Titans, even though small in number, were able to shake up the offense of the Panthers in the first half. It was all Panthers in the first inning as Caleb Wynn made his debut as a running back after a year layoff. It looked as though he never stopped – he was able to cut corners and hit the open pockets that the line opened for him. The front line did a good job of opening up the Titan defense. Wynn drew first blood early in the first quarter by notching six points on the board, but the extra point failed. The Panther defense was all over the field. What they lack in size, they make up for in speed and strength. The Titans were held on their first set of downs, and the ball went back to the Panthers. However, the Titan defense stepped up the heat and didn’t allow the Panthers to score, holding them at the goal line on two separate occasions. The Titans couldn’t move the ball against the Panther defense, and then it was show time for Isaac Workman. Quick as you can say touchdown, Workman intercepted a pass at the one yard line and stepped over the goal line for the TD. That was it for the Panthers in the first half.
During the second half, the Panthers started mixing it up a little with the running; handing the ball to different runners seemed to throw the Titans off, and the Panthers started moving the ball well. However, it was once again an Workman show when he intercepted another pass and ran this one in for about a 61 yard touchdown run. The defense allowed one touchdown for the Titans late in the game, but that was it. The Panther defense is alive and well, and they have some great running backs to get the ball down the field. This should be a good season for the Panthers. When the smoke cleared, it was Panthers 31, Titans 6. Workman had three interceptions with two of them being returned for touchdowns. Caleb Wynn had 26 carries for 171 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Zack Ferrebee had 11 tackles and Ryan Burdette had seven tackles and one sack.
It was a good opening game for the Panthers, but they will be tested the next few games. Next up is Braxton for the season home opener, followed by Roane County on September 8th. Roane County destroyed the Panthers last season, and it is time for retribution. This Panther team is fast and can tackle, and I look for a different outcome than last season in these next two games. Go Panthers!
