to take. The half-time football score stood Mt. Enterprise 58, Alba-Golden 14. 

As the teams came out for the second half, the Panthers had a lot at stake, possibly their whole season. It would have been easy to have caved, run out the clock to fight another day.

Not a chance. The Panthers came out for the second half on fire. They scored on their first two possessions and limited Mt. Enterprise to 45 yards from scrimmage.

There was a notable mindset change in the team during the second half last Thursday at Mt. Enterprise. It was as if the team suddenly had a fundamental recognition of how to play the game. 

The team dominated physically and generally out-performed the hosts in the closing quarters.

Now, about that medicine. It was tough to take. The game started with a nightmare. 

Mt. Enterprise scored on their first play from scrimmage, recovered the ensuing kick-off and scored on their next play. 

The Panthers took their first snap from scrimmage trailing by 16 points. On that first play, Mt. Enterprise scored again on a scoop-and-score of a fumble. Before one minute had ticked off the game clock, Alba-Golden was down 22-0.

It was also clear that the Panthers have some alignment and technique issues to deal with defensively. Five of the eight Mt. Enterprise scores in the first half were long runs through the heart of the defense or set up by long runs. 

Alba-Golden adjusted. They gave up 402 yards in the first half but only 45 in the second.  

Offensively, the Panthers generated two touchdowns in each half.  The scores came after drives of 62, 57, 60 and 66 yards. They also drove 59 yards in the first quarter only to lose a fumble at the goal line.  

Alba-Golden ran an efficient, short-range, passing game which was complemented by a solid running attack. Quarterback Sam Olson went 20 for 30 and delivered the ball with velocity and accuracy. He linked up with Boogie Trimble, Cooper Christian, Brett Sutton and Cason Boyd. 

There were several stand-out moments. On Alba-Golden’s last scoring drive, Trimble elevated to make a tough catch over the top of a defender. It gave the Panthers a first down and set up Olson’s strike to Sutton who made a catch in the left flat and raced 27 yards for a score. 

Sutton had another productive night, leading the Panthers through his example and energy. Mason Smith recorded Alba-Golden’s first touchdown of the season with a tough carry over the right side behind Cole Redmond and Hudson Osbern.   

Alba-Golden lost the game 64-27. Mt. Enterprise was gifted a touchdown late in the game when a punt bounced off a Panther returner. The side judge blew the play dead, but. Mt Enterprise recovered the ball in the end zone. After a long officials’ huddle, the inadvertent whistle was deemed not to have happened, and the score was awarded to the hosts.

This loss – including the nightmarish start, the deep hole, and the fight to compete which rallied the Panthers – should be remembered. This year’s squad will likely be able to mark their success this season on last week’s experience in Rusk County.