With high stakes on the line for both teams coming into this week 9 matchup between the Perry Panthers and the hometown Green Bulldogs we knew this game was going to be a good one from start to finish. The (3-5) Perry Panthers led by Head Coach Zach Slates would take their team into one of the most hostile and tougher places to win a game in the Federal league, Green high school. Both teams had a lot on the line here as Green came into the night chasing the top spot in the Federal League. Perry on the other hand coming into this game losers of 4 straight needed a bigtime win to punch their ticket into the post-season.
The 1st Quarter of this one was a battle of the defenses. Both teams defenses were on fire as they kept this one scoreless through the first 12 minutes of the game. Perry's defense though would be the reason why the Panthers would ultimately come out on top in this one as they had 2 interceptions on the night from senior Kyson Walker, who has arguably been the Panthers best player this season, and junior Jayden Wilson had the panthers other pick. Jonathan Klintwortrh and power house defensive end Mike Millian were able to get to quarterback Tyson Hunka and play a big role in the night.
The offenses would get rolling in the second quarter. On the first play of the quarterback Tyson Hunka would throw a 7-yard Tocuhdown pass to Antonio Martin which would get his squad on the board early in this one.
Perry's offense really needed to get something going in the 2nd just to keep the game close, and they did in a big way. Perry's quarterback Austin Mattox would throw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Marcellys Harris to tie things up at 7 a piece.
After Perry tied it up Green would get the ball back with around 4 minutes left and marched down the field and put up 3 more points on a field goal as the clock ran out and took a 10-7 lead into the locker room at the half.
The mood seemed to change for the Panthers in the second half of this one and you could tell from the start of the second half. Junior Caleob Hundley, who has had his fair share of injuries this season, would punch a 1-yard touchdown in at the goal line to give the Panthers a 14-10 lead over Green.
Hundley along with punching in the touchdown would have a huge night on the ground rushing for 107 Yards. The Bulldog offense in the 3rd was not able to get anything going what so ever and that would end up putting them behind 14-10 heading into the 4th quarter.
To start the 4th Perry was not playing around. Quarterback Austin Mattox would throw a
33-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Mason Heil to extend Perry's lead to 21-10 in the early portion of the 4th. The Bulldogs offense would still struggle as quarterback Tyson Hunka threw an interception that would have things looking bleak for the Bulldogs. They would end up getting the ball back and took it all the way into the end zone with running back Evan Reed and that would bring them within five at 21-16.
The Bulldogs would ultimately go for 2 to try and cut the lead down to three, but it would be an unsuccessful try that would end the ball game in Green.
The Bulldogs would have had first place in the Federal League with a win tonight with the McKinley Bulldogs getting upset by the Jackson Polar Bears but couldn't get the job done. With this win the Panthers would improve to 4-5 and punch their ticket into the playoffs with a chance of hosting a playoff game needing to win their matchup next week against the struggling 1-8 Glenoak Eagles.
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