Panthers Clinch Playoff Berth with Sixth Straight, but Victory is Bittersweet

After a slow start the Panthers rolled to a 42-20 victory over Lawrence on homecoming night at WHS. With the win the Panthers clinched their first spot in the MHSAA Playoffs since 2005. The win did not come without a cost however as sensational Sophomore running back Brett Thumm was lost for the season with a broken leg early in the second quarter.

Things started slowly for the home team Friday night as the Panthers uncharacteristically failed to score in the first quarter. The visiting Tigers took advantage executing a very nice screen pass on their 2nd drive of the night that went for a big gain putting Lawrence inside the Panther 5 yard line. Two plays later Lawrence took what would be their only lead of the night as leading rusher Antonio Ramirez stretched it across from 2 yards out. As the first quarter came to a close the Panthers found themselves trailing for only the third time this season, down 7-0.

The second quarter was an entirely different story for the Panthers. Early in the quarter Senior QB Kevin Eastman connected with Junior WR Aaron Dabicci for a 20 yard TD strike. Senior kicker Marco Montejano added his first of 6 extra points on the night and the score was tied at 7. The defense, taking offense to the first Lawrence score, was stifling for the much of the rest of the game. Lawrence was forced to abandon their power running attack (only 94 yards on 36 carries for the night) in favor of a passsing game. After the next defensive stop, the Panther offense was moving the ball well and went with a Thumm run on first down. As Thumm planted to cut he was hit by two Tiger defenders and twisted awkwardly as his foot was wedged in the turf, which was softened by nearly 24 straight hours of rain. The crowd collectively held its breath as Thumm lay on the field in pain. Unfortunately the news on the field was not good, a broken leg.

Thumm has had an outstanding season, leading the Panthers in rushing with over 700 yards and 9 TD’s coming into the game. Brett was named WSJM’s athlete of the week after his 261 yard, 4 TD performance in week two vs. Gobles. He has been so good in fact that both Marcellus and Lawrence deployed extra men in the box to stop the run. The Panthers will sorely miss Thumm moving forward, but are confident that the rest of the running backs in the program will elevate their game to pick up the slack.

After a lengthy timeout to attend to Thumm, the Panthers came out focused and determined to finish off the win for their fallen teammate. It took just two more plays, a long pass from Eastman to Senior WR Cory Quinn and a 5 yard strike to Senior WR Marco Montejano, for the Panthers to find paydirt again. With that the floodgates were open. The defense stifled Lawrence three more times in the quarter, once blocking a punt. The offense took advantage of their opportunities, scoring two more times. The first on a pretty roll out pass from Eastman to Quinn for a 19 yard strike, and the second a 3 yard checkdown from Eastman to Senior running back Collin Buck (filling in for Thumm). As the quarter came to an end the Panther blitzkrieg of the 2nd quarter had put them up 28-7.

The third quarter was more of the same as Lawrence continued to pile defenders inside and Eastman continued to make them pay with the passing game. On the opening drive of the quarter Eastman again hooked up with Dabicci, this time from 22 yards out. With the defense allowing nothing and earning two takeaways courtesy of Senior CB (and ballhawk) Timmy Flagel who picked off two on the night, giving him 6 picks on the season. The Panthers closed out their 42-0 2nd and 3rd quarters with a tough 5 yard TD run from Buck to make it 42-7 at the end of 3. The Tigers were able to muster a couple late drives to close the final gap to 42-20, but the game, and the Playoff berth, were well in hand.

Defensively the Panthers were stingy, allowing less than three yards per carry for the 6th time this season. Senior Linebackers Joe Isbrecht and Collin Buck led the way with 10 and 9 tackles respectively. LB Michael Johnson had a fine night as well, recording 8 tackles and a sack. Senior DE Max Goodrich continued his outstanding play with 6 tackles and sack, while defensive tackles DJ Howley and Jake Elliot clogged the middle and recorded three tackles a piece. Defenive End Shawn Beezely and Defensive Tackle Donnie Divis each recorded a sack as well.

Offensively the Panthers moved the ball very well, racking up 470 yards of total offense. Eastman had another stellar night going 15/28 for 320 yards, 1 INT and 5 TD passes (his second straight game with 5 TD passes). Dabicci led the receiving corps with 6 catches for 129 yards and two TD’s. Quinn snagged two for 48 yards and a TD, Buck 3 for 47 with a TD, Flagel 2 for 69, and Montejano added 3 for 31 and a TD. The Panthers spread it around on the ground with Buck leading the way picking up 60 yards on 6 carries, with one going for a TD. Thumm had totaled 28 yards on 5 carries before the injury, and Eastman picked up 32 on 5 carries to help the team to 150 yards on the ground.

With a playoff spot secure, the Panthers (6-1, 3-0) now set their sites on a SAC South Conference crown. Standing in the way is perennial conference frontrunner Decatur. The Raiders (5-2, 2-1) beat Hartford Friday night. It will be Senior night in Panther Stadium, with the game set for a 7:00 kickoff.