The Whitharral Panthers came away with a 44-39 home win over the Silverton Owls in UIL Class 1A 6-man football action last Friday night.
“The Silverton game almost feels like a rivalry game,” said Head Football Coach Jeremy Holt.
“They are a very good team,” said Coach Holt.
Holt added that the Panthers were forced to make adjustments for an injury on the opening kickoff.
“The kids had to make adjustments during the first quarter, but they settled in and played a hard-fought game,” said Coach Holt.
The Owls scored first, but the Panthers were able to tie the score at eight points each on a 21yard pass from Brent Robinson to Dawson Rodgers.
“We continue to show some growth from week to week,” Holt concluded. “That’s all we can ask as we continue to develop our program.”
The second Silverton score was the same. The Owls scored and the Panthers answered, this time on a 2-yard run by Robinson. Both teams’ kickers were 100% for a 16-all score at the end of the first period.
Whitharral took a 24-16 lead on a Rayden Potter 19-yard run and another Jack Griffin kick. The Owls answered, then scored again for a 30-24 lead, but this time the kick didn’t work. A 3yard run game them one point on the conversion for a 31-24 lead.
The final score of the half came off a 21-yard pass from Robinson to Griffin. The conversion failed, however, and Whitharral trailed 31-30, at the buzzer.
The Owls maintained the lead through the third quarter, extending it to 39-30 score at one point. A 38-yard touchdown from Robinson with a failed conversion cut the Owls’ lead, 39-36, at the end of the third quarter.
The only score of the fourth quarter came when Griffen found Nate Sansom open for an 8-yard score. The kick was good for a 4439 final Whitharral lead.
Robison had 10 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Rodgers had 11 carries for 40 yards. Landon Lee had two carries for 30 yards. Potter had a 19-yard touchdown carry and Griffin had three carries for 16 yards.
Griffin went 10-for-16 for 93 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Robinson went 2for-3 for 33 yards and a touchdown. Brolin Kennedy went 0-for-5.
Rodgers had four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. Robinson had two catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. Sansom had two catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. Kennedy had two catches for 14 yards. Tucker Parkinson had two catches for three yards.
Griffin had a 39-yard punt. Robinson had a 25-yard kick return. Sansom had four returns for 12 yards.
Potter had 13 ½ tackles, Rodgers had nine, Sansom had 5 ½, Kennedy had five and Griffin had four. Lee and Carson Bates had 2 ½ each.
The Panthers hosted Dora, New Mexico, Friday for homecoming. The Coyotes are 21 and currently ranked second in New Mexico 6-man football by MaxPreps. Game time was slated for 7 p.m.