Wildcats Fall to Panthers 37-19

It was a full-scale assault Thursday night with the Plant Panthers roaring out of the gates, dropping three touchdown drives on the Wharton Wildcats in the first quarter. The Wildcats just could get nothing going on offense until senior broke a 60-yard touchdown. It rallied the Wildcats but they best they could manage was a halftime score of 34-6.

The Wildcats came back strong in the second half. They outscored Plant 13-3 in the second half, largely on the back of Page but with some great defensive efforts as well. In the end, the Panthers were just too much and they handed Wharton their first district defeat.

“We came out slow and you can’t do that against a team like that,” said Wildcat head coach David Mitchell.

Mitchell was pleased with his team’s effort in the second half.

“I thought we played tough football, good defense and Page was making plays for us,” Mitchell said.

"They are a well-coached team and you can’t let them get back in the game like that,” Panther head coach Robert Weiner said of the Wildcats second half effort.

Weiner was happy with the way his offense played.

“We were able to open lanes in the running game,” he said.

Senior running back Paris Bostick ran through a gaping hole in the Wildcat defense for a 40-yarder in the third quarter. Senior fullback Maronte Gilbert also had seven carries for about 60 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers rushed for just over 200 yards on 36 attempts with a touchdown but did most of their damage in the passing game.

Senior quarterback James Few went nine-of-17 for 260 yards and four touchdowns. He had two interceptions but one was off a deflection and incredible play by junior Wildcat defensive back Everett Madsen. Junior running back Wes Bullock went off with three catches for about 130 yards and two touchdowns.

They offensive line dominated the Wildcat front with senior Nathan Sheinle and sophomores Ray Raulerson and Richard Bush pancaking Wildcat linebackers. The addition of 235-pound Gilbert to the lineup also beefed up the Panther running game quite a bit.

The Wildcats got theirs in though. Darius Page had nine carries for about 70 yards and two touchdowns, while taking five receptions for about 130 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Chase Litton endured Panther defenders, namely junior Mitchell Wright and senior Patrick Wright, who basically caved in the left side of the Wildcat offense most of the game.

Still Litton was able to shake off some nasty hits and even take over punting and throw for 270 yards and a touchdown. He threw two picks but one was late in the game when Wharton was just heaving it downfield.

The real difference was the Panther defense, which seems to be hitting its stride. They blitzed and disguised those blitzes very well. It kept Wharton off balance all game.

“Sunday night is a fun night for us. It’s when Few and Johnson put together their defensive schemes,” said Weiner. “It’s like a couple of mad scientists.”

Even the kicking game went well for the Panthers. Senior Grant Van Aman sending just about every kickoff into the end zone and making four of five extra points. Junior William Few even got some kicks in, taking over in the second half and sinking a 39-yard field goal.

Quarter breakdown:

1^st quarter:

-Sophomore Austin “Baby” Roberts catches a perfectly thrown ball down the sideline for a 28-yard touchdown. 7-0.

-Plant jumps on a bad snap during a Wharton punt and takes over at the Wildcat 21-yard line.

-Panthers punch it in behind great blocking and tough running from Gilbert. 14-0.

-The Panthers get backed up by a sack and penalty only to strike on a circus catch by senior receiver for a 41-yard touchdown. 21-0.

2^nd quarter:

-Page pops one for 60 yards and a touchdown. Missed extra point, 21-6

-Bullock takes a screen pass 80 yards up the sideline for a touchdown. 28-6

-After rolling right, Few throws across the field to Bullock who scampers up the sideline for about a 30-yard touchdown. Extra point no good, 34-6.

-Senior receiver hauls in a pass through double coverage and is tackled at the three. Time runs out in the half as the Wildcat coaches tried to call a timeout.

3^rd quarter:

-Wildcat defense bends but doesn’t break. They surrender just a field goal, 37-6.

-Thompson catches and run a 50-yarder deep into Panther territory, setting up a short Page touchdown run. The two-point conversion fails, 37-12.

4^th quarter:

-Page breaks two tackles and rumbles down the sideline, shaking off diving Panthers for a 65-yard touchdown. 37-19