The Alba-Golden Panthers rolled up 585 yards from scrimmage in a dominating 58-0 win Friday at Clarksville. The host Tigers were no match for a disciplined and efficient Panther squad.

Alba-Golden scored on each of its nine tactical possessions. Exceptionally strong running by all Alba-Golden ball carriers was one of the singular highlights.  

Jake Hallman led the rushing attack, demonstrating explosiveness, speed and power. He was joined by Garrett Wright, Luke Sutton and Luke Jones. Each ball carrier had exemplary runs at some stage. 

Defensively, the Panthers held the Tigers to negative 13 yards. They forced three interceptions, one fumble, five punts and one turnover-on-downs. 

The Panther defensive effort stifled any attempts by Clarksville to mount a drive. Each level of the defense  – defensive line, linebackers and secondary – played with a controlled aggression.

Despite facing a team of considerable size and athleticism, the Panthers used good football sense and solid blocking and tackling techniques to impose their will.

There were plenty of remarkable plays. On Alba-Golden’s first possession, and on a third-and-1 from near midfield, Layton Williams took an inside handoff from a heavy formation. He carried defenders on a 30-yard ramble which set up the Panthers’ first score. Williams scored early in the second quarter to put Alba-Golden up 32-0.

Panther Garrett Wright had a stellar game. He scored on a nicely executed flag route from 26-yards. The toss from quarterback Easton Campbell was perfect, and Wright made the catch in stride. 

Wright also had the defensive play of the game. While defending a go route late in the first half, Wright extended horizontally in a dive and one-handed a pass from the Tigers’ quarterback. He managed to reel the ball in to his chest just before making contact with the turf.  

For examples of effort and physical dominance, linebacker Mason Smith and defensive tackle Layton Williams led the overwhelming physical dominance at the line of scrimmage. 

Boogie Trimble also had an effective night, scoring twice by turning up field after Campbell hit him with passes in the right flat. 

With three lopsided wins under their belt, the Panthers have a sense for what it feels like when plays work as designed. Thursday’s match-up at Big Sandy – a 2A DI team – will present new challenges and will be a step up in the level of competition. 

The Panthers will need another well-focused effort Thursday in order to ready themselves for the extremely tough District 9-2A.