The Springlake- Earth Wolverines’ varsity football team fell to the Whitharral Panthers in their season- opener this past weekend, 71-22, in a game that started on Friday and had to be finished on Saturday due to weather.
With the loss, the Wolverines fall to 0- 1 overall to start the season.
On Saturday, the game picked up with Whitharral in front, 31-18, with 5:37 to go in the second quarter.
Whitharral’s onside kick try was recovered by Kaylob Frietze at the Springlake-Earth 32-yard line.
Bryan Longoria carried the ball on first down for the Wolverines, but was stopped for a three- yard loss and the pass from Froylan Agundiz to Donovon Stiggers fell incomplete, as Springlake-Earth took a time out with 4: 54 to play in the half. Out of the break, Agundiz completed a pass to Robert Flores on the left side, who took it down to the Panther’s 25- yard line to give them a first down.
However, the drive would stall, and on fourth and 15, Agundiz’s pass for Flores fell incomplete for a turnover on downs with 2: 58 to play in the half.
Whitharral took over at their own 25- yard line and wasted no time getting going, as Greg Johnson got loose on the right side for a 55- yard touchdown run. The kick from Nathaniel Sansom was good, pushing their lead to, 39-18.
Springlake- Earth took over just inside of their own territory after the kick return from Flores, but they would go four- and- out, as a screen pass to Frietze was stopped short of the sticks for a turnover on downs with 2: 21 to play in the half.
The Panthers would begin their next offensive possession at their own 29- yard line, as Johson carried it for 10-yard on first down, before being brought down by Victor Juarez. Brent Robinson followed it up with a big run across midfield to the Springlake- Earth 20yard line to give them a fresh set of downs.
Johnson took off to his left for a run on first down, cutting it back to the right, but the play was called back for a holding penalty, backing the Panthers up to the 26-yard line. Three plays later, Sansom would score on a three- yard touchdown run up the middle to make the score, 45-18, after his kick was blocked by Agundiz with 11 seconds left in the half.
The kick- off went out of bounds for Whitharral and Longoria broke free on first down for a big run, taking the ball down to the 11- yard line, as Springlake-Earth called time out with two seconds to play in the half. The Wolverines lined up for a field goal, as Flores booted it through the uprights to trim the lead to, 4522, going into halftime.
The Panthers got the ball to begin the second half, as Johnson carried it on back- toback plays, giving them third and four from the Wolverine’s 24-yard line. The pass on third down fell incomplete for Robinson, but Agundiz was flagged for defensive pass interference, giving Whitharral the ball at the nine- yard line to set up first and goal. Johnson would score on the next play, followed by the kick from Sansom, making the score, 53-22, with 8:24 to play in the third quarter.
The Wolverines got a big return from Josiah Castillo on the kick- off, but just three plays into their drive, Agundiz was picked off by Damian Rodriguez, who returned it up to the Springlake- Earth 30yard line with 6: 45 to play in the third. The Wolverines did not lay down, as Johnson was stopped for a two-yard gain by Juarez on first down.
Robinson’s pass for Sansom fell incomplete and Rodriguez was saced by Levi Hill on third down, bringing up fourth and long from the Wolverine 37yard line, as the Panthers took a time out to discuss their strategy. Out of the break, Robinson scrambled before taking off down the home sideline for a touchdown with 4:51 to play in the quarter. The kick was no good, leaving the score, 59-22.
The Wolverine’s offensive struggles continued, as Agundiz was picked off by Robinson, who returned it for a pick- six, but the score was called back for a holding penalty, taking the ball back to their own 27- yard line. Two plays later, Johnson would break free for a 53-yard touchdown run down the left side, making the score, 65- 22, after the missed kick with 4: 05 to play in the third quarter.
Whitharral would get the ball back with 1: 46 to play, after Flores was stopped short of the line to gain for the Wolverines and on the next play, Rodriguez hit Robinson on a screen to the right, as he cut it back up the middle for a 61--yard touchdown to close out the contest, as the Wolverines fell to the Panthers, 71- 22.
The Wolverines will be at Paducah this week to take on the Dragons. Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.