by Steve Bradley
Playing in the final game of the season on the HFCS field, the Panthers outgunned the Rensselaer Rams to take the win and bring their record to even in the win-loss column.
[private]The game began with a scoreless first quarter. The fireworks began in the second quarter, and continued throughout the third, when defense went out the window and touchdowns began appearing one right after the other.
Wyatt Cushman, after a drive that started on their own 40 yard line, connected with Wyatt Whitman for a ten yard score with just under nine minutes left in the second quarter. Lucas Brogue booted the extra point to give the Panthers a 7 – 0 lead.
On the kickoff, the Rensselaer returner coughed up the ball and the Panthers gathered it in at the Rams 36. Immediately taking advantage of the gift, Cushman found Rem Hickey along the opponents sideline and dropped a perfect pass into his arms for a 36 yard TD. The extra point was missed, sending the Panther into the locker room for the halftime break with a 13 – 0 lead.
With nine minutes gone in the third quarter, the Rams got on the board with an 78 yard run. The extra point was missed, but the Rams were seven points away from a tie.
The Panthers countered five plays later when Noah LaBarge burst through a perfectly blocked hole and scampered up the middle of the field for 45 yards to score. The extra point was no good.
Three plays later, Rensselaer came right back. Taking a handoff and going off tackle to the left side, the ball carrier tightroped down the sideline for 63 yards and a score. The PAT was no good and the Panther lead was back at six.
In what was becoming a third quarter shootout, the Panthers, starting at their own 23 yard line, drove 41 yards in five plays, then used the sixth play for Cushman to connect with a wide open Alex Mendez for a 36 yard TD. The two point conversion was good.
Not to be outdone, Rensselaer fired back. Taking over at their own 49 after a short kick, a 33 yard run and a 19 yard quarterback keeper to the left side for a TD that put Rensselaer back on the scoreboard. The two point attempt was no good, leaving the Panthers with a 27 – 18 lead.
It wouldn’t have been a safe lead if scoring continued at the third quarter pace, but Rensselaer was unable to score again. The Panthers tacked on a fourth quarter touchdown when Cushman threw for his fourth touchdown of the evening, a three yarder to Mendez, to cap the scoring.
Cushman ended the night with 173 passing yard. Mendez was on the receiving end of 74 of those yards. Noah LaBarge rushed for 113 yards.
The Panthers finished the season with a 4 – 4 record. Injuries and other factors that caused many players to miss games throughout the season played a major role in the Panthers won-loss record. With the team at full strength, Corinth should have been a win, but seven starters out just couldn’t be overcome. A couple plays that go right and undefeated Greenwich would have been toppled. The Panthers have been fortunate over the past several years with injuries. This year it caught up with them.[/private]