Panthers defeat Howell to open the 2019 season!

The FZN football team opened their season with a rain-soaked 38 - 24 victory over Francis Howell. The two teams, who met for just the second time since 1999, were both ranked in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's top ten large schools prior to the game. Last season, the Panthers squeaked by the Vikings in overtime. On Friday, both teams dealt with less than ideal conditions as a steady rain fell throughout most of the contest, making it difficult at times to get a firm handle on the ball.

The Panther offense was led by their vaunted ground attack. Behind the blocking of Gavin Stricker, Gavin LaBell, Joey Martin, Adam Lewis and Nate Rapplean the Panthers amassed 305 total rushing yards against Howell. Two Panthers, Cairo Payne (145 yards) and Izaiah Hartrup (101 yards), eclipsed the 100 yard mark. Payne, Hartrup, Tyler Oakes and Chris Futrell all scored rushing touchdowns for the Panthers. It was Payne's dynamic 58 yard rushing touchdown on the Panthers first possession of the night that set the tone for the Panther offense.

Defensively the team was led in tackling by Max Martin (13 tackles), Chris Futrell (9 tackles), and Parker Monnig (6 tackles). Izaiah Hartrup provided the play of the night, when he recorded a 50 yard pick-six just before the conclusion of the first half. Hartrup notched another interception in the second half.

This Friday the Panthers play host to inter-district rival Fort Zumwalt West in a game known as the "Battle of O'Fallon" as the game features the city's two public high schools. West enters the game with a 1 - 0 record after defeating highly regarded Eureka in their opener. Kick-off for Friday's game is scheduled for 7:00 pm.