A-G Panthers grind out hard-fought win

Posted 10/27/21

A signature win, a program-defining win, a heck of a bus ride on the way home. Any way you want to define it, the Alba-Golden Panthers played an inspired football game in Red River County Friday and came home with a 15-14 win over the Rivercrest Rebels.  

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A-G Panthers grind out hard-fought win

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A signature win, a program-defining win, a heck of a bus ride on the way home. Any way you want to define it, the Alba-Golden Panthers played an inspired football game in Red River County Friday and came home with a 15-14 win over the Rivercrest Rebels.  

The Panthers drove out many of the demons which had plagued them this year. They created turnovers, remained disciplined, adjusted in-situ to the opponent’s efforts and out-muscled a bigger and faster squad.

The happiness at the end of this effort was genuine and well-deserved. 

It didn’t come easily. Rivercrest scored on its opening possession, highlighted by a tough-to-defend counter play. They drove 55 yards in five plays to take an early 7-0 lead.

The Panthers were undeterred. They drove to mid-field after Easton Campbell connected with Blake Weissert on a nicely-timed out route. Alba-Golden came right back with the route combination on the next play but to the other side of the field. This time a Rebel defender stepped in front of the pass for the interception.

The series that followed was telling. On first down a crushing tackle by Michael Gaskill threw the Rebels for a big loss. Great pressure by the front line forced an errant throw on third down, and Rivercrest lined up to punt. 

The punt snap was right on time and the punter proceeded with no delay, which made Michael Gaskill’s clean punt block even more impressive. It set the Panthers up at the Rebel 29-yard line.

Alba-Golden ground their way to the end zone, using power running football. Weissert scored through the right side behind a run-heavy formation. Michael Smith slotted the PAT, and the game was tied at the end of one quarter.

Rivercrest responded with a 61-yard scoring drive. They converted two fourth downs when it appeared that the Panthers had stalled the drive. Rivercrest used a balanced attack and had the Panthers a bit on their heels. 

Alba-Golden got back to work on their next possession and drove the ball across mid-field. The drive was derailed by a holding penalty – one of only three penalties committed by the Panthers. A punt followed.

Rivercrest flung a long, arching pass on a third down from mid-field. The route appeared to be a go route, but the receiver had to make such an adjustment to the pass that it became a corner route. The over-the-shoulder catch was spectacular. Rivercrest had the ball at the Panther 7-yard line.

Inspired defensive play by Jerry Skinner, Jack Patten and Shawn Gaskill and two critical Rivercrest penalties kept the Rebels out of the end zone. 

Rivercrest lined up for a 26-yard field goal attempt. The Rebel placekicker had a very strong leg, and the kick should have been a surety. However, Weissert came off the left edge and made a highlight-reel block.

The Panthers had the ball back with about two minutes in the half. Using two nice completions – Campbell to Michael Gaskill and Campbell to Skinner – and an 18-yard Campbell scramble, the Panthers drove to the Rebels 22-yard line. They could not push it in and went to the half down by seven.

The third quarter produced three punts and a Rivercrest fumble. Neither side could gain a decisive advantage, but the physical play was tipping the scales in favor of the Panthers. 

Near the end of the third quarter, the Rebels generated some offense. They mixed wide receiver screens with passes on halfback flares to gain the Panther 16-yard line. There, the defense forced the second fumble of the half, and the Panthers took possession.

What followed was the longest Alba-Golden drive of the year – 85 yards. The Panthers pounded the ball, with incredibly strong running by Shawn Gaskill and Glen Hartley. The relentless, grinding ground attack perfectly set up a long post route completion from Campbell to Weissert for 41 yards.

More punishing runs ensued as the Panthers reached the Rebel 18-yard line. A Campbell to Shawn Gaskill completion took the ball to the 8. Three successive runs put the ball just shy of the goal line.

On a fourth-and-goal, with 4:44 to play, Weissert pushed over on a quarterback sneak. 

After a time-out, the Panthers played for the win. With a run-heavy package on the right side of the formation, and two wings, Weissert moved as if to run the lead quarterback draw over the right side. Meanwhile, Michael Gaskill snuck out the left side of the formation to the back of the end zone. Weissert lofted him a soft pass, and Gaskill made the catch. 

Alba-Golden led 15-14. 

The final minutes were hectic. The Panthers forced a Rebel punt and proceeded on a 57-yard drive. On the toughest run of the night Hartley carried for 17 yards over the left side down to the Rebel’s 9 yard line. 

Alba-Golden eventually turned the ball over on downs with :53 seconds remaining but staved off the wild Rivercrest efforts to gain scoring territory. After a turnover on downs, the Panthers enjoyed a victory formation snap. 

It was a significant victory and illustrated just how far this team has come. The Rivercrest game marked the high point in the concept of playing as a team. The final two regular season games, hosting Honey Grove and visiting Como-Pickton, promise a strong finish to the campaign.