Big Sandy runs away from Alba-Golden Panthers

Posted 9/11/19

Sometimes, in the game of football, a team just needs to be hit in the mouth. The Alba-Golden Panthers had that experience last Friday in Big Sandy, as they were defeated 60-34 by the host Wildcats. …

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Big Sandy runs away from Alba-Golden Panthers

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Sometimes, in the game of football, a team just needs to be hit in the mouth. The Alba-Golden Panthers had that experience last Friday in Big Sandy, as they were defeated 60-34 by the host Wildcats.

While a look at the statistics would argue that the Panthers brought this loss on themselves by losing four fumbles, an interception and giving up three turnovers on downs, that would not be the whole story. The Panthers gave up six scoring drives of over 50 yards.

Alba-Golden almost played the spoiler as the game wore on. Late in the first half they drew within 11 points, only to give up a score with time running out in the half.

Early in the fourth quarter they scored to draw within 13 points. As the Big Sandy fans nervously kept checking the clock, the Wildcats scored on a 42-yard big play and a 93-yard drive to settle the scorecard.

Each time the Panthers eyed a comeback, they could not keep the Wildcats out of the end zone. It was excruciatingly frustrating to fans and likely the team as well. On the night, each side had over 400 yards of offense. The Panthers knew they could score at will.

The second quarter sunk Alba-Golden. They continued to fight through the whistle, but four consecutive touchdowns by the Wildcats in four second-quarter possessions created too big of a deficit to overcome.

Big Sandy scored on the opening possession. The five-play drive featured a 35-yard scoring jaunt around left end by senior Ashton Schneider. Alba-Golden blocked the point after touchdown attempt.

Alba-Golden struck right back. Quarterback Blake Weissert hit a gorgeous 60-yard go route to Tim Mitchell. Austin Hartley took the ball up the middle for 11 yards more. On second down from the 9, Boedy Baker carried through excellent blocking on the right side and scored. With the extra point Alba-Golden led 7-6.

The Panthers forced back to back 3-and-outs, as the game took some odd turns. The visitors turned the ball over deep in their territory when it was judged by the officiating team that the Panther punt returner had touched the ball in a catch attempt.

The back judge evidently never saw this happen. Big Sandy took over at the Alba-Golden 33 yard line.

The Panthers defense bowed up, forcing another 3-and-out. Field position had shifted due to the punt fiasco and Alba-Golden took the ball at their own 17 yard line.

In a phenomenon which plagued the visitors all night, the Panthers lost a fumble on the first snap.

The Wildcats wasted no time in broaching the end zone. This time the score was on a nicely-executed slant route completion. Score: 13-7 Big Sandy.

The teams exchanged possession. Alba-Golden punted and Big Sandy coughed up a fumble at its 22 yard line. The Panthers scored three plays later on a Weissert keeper. With the point after touchdown, the score stood 14-13 Alba-Golden.

Then came the second quarter. Two defensive issues coalesced into a perfect storm for the Panthers. They began to lose containment on the edge of the defense, especially once Big Sandy began to move the quarterback, and the Wildcat receivers were springing free down field.

Big Sandy scored on a 60-yard drive to start the quarter, and after turning Alba-Golden over on downs, added a score with a 67-yard drive. With 2:13 to play in the half the Wildcats led 26-14.

The Panthers quickly moved down to the opponent’s 21 yard line. There, the fumble bug bit hard as the Panthers gave up their third fumble of the night. In just over a minute, the Wildcats moved 65 yards and scored on a nicely-designed shuttle pass. With :38 on the clock, Big Sandy led 33-14.

The Big Sandy kickoff was fielded by Jon-Michael Chadwick deep on the south sideline. He cruised back to the middle of the field and picked his lane. In an instant he accelerated through the mass of tacklers, broke left at the Wildcats’ 40, then back again to the middle of the field.

It was an electrifying kick return, and closed the score to 33-20. A two-point conversion made it 33-22 with 14 seconds to play in the half.

The 78-yard Chadwick return could possibly have been a thing of legend had the half ended at that point. The return had obviously electrified the team. Unfortunately for Alba-Golden, Big Sandy had enough time to get the ball to one of their playmakers in space. The Wildcats answered with a 50-yard catch and run slicing back through the Panther defense. At the half the score was 40-22, Big Sandy.

The second half opened with more officiating curiosities. On a 4th and 6 from mid-field, Weissert had an open receiver on a ten yard out route.

The receiver was tackled from behind long before the ball arrived and the Wildcats intercepted the pass. A flag was thrown for the interference but was picked up because the pass supposedly was tipped.

The mysterious tipped pass gave Big Sandy a big turnover to start the second half. They cashed in. Three plays later quarterback Caden Minter hit Carter Oswalt with a gorgeous fade into the corner of the end zone. Score: 47-22 Big Sandy.

Alba-Golden mounted its best offensive series of the night late in the third quarter. It was classic Panther football – Baker, Hartley and Chadwick – with Chadwick finding the end zone on a 17-yard sprint around the left end. With one quarter to play the score stood 47-28 Big Sandy.

A successful onside kick put the Panthers back in business. It was not to be. Two negative yardage plays, a fumble and an errant punt snap gave the ball back to the Wildcats at the Panther 38 yard line.

Yet another officiating oddity ensued. On a 2nd and 13, Big Sandy threw a ball from the pocket into the left flat. The on-rushing Boedy Baker swatted the ball away in mid-flight. Not hearing a whistle, Baker scooped up the ball and ran 50 yards for a score.

Everyone in Big Sandy expected the play to be returned as it was very obvious that the pass had been a forward pass and hence should have been called incomplete. For unknown reasons, the play stood. Score: 47-34, Big Sandy.

On the first play after the ensuing kick-off, the Wildcats scored. Big Sandy’s Dakarai Menefee turned the corner on a sweep and went 58 yards. Baker blocked the extra point. With 10 minutes left to play the score stood 53-34.

Alba-Golden had one more solid offensive possession in the game. They drove the ball 54 yards in seven plays down to the 5 yard line. Big Sandy finally gang-tackled Baker and kept Alba-Golden out of the endzone.

The Wildcats added a late score to make the final tally 60-34.