Varsity football shuts out Sickles
Just as the sun was set over the field at Gaither High School on Friday night, the Panthers kicked off to the Gryphons. The dominant defensive performance led the Plant team to a 21-0 victory and gave them their fourth win, as they improve to 4-1 on the season.
“I think it took us a good month to kind of get into a groove, whether it be for whatever reason it took us that long,” defensive coordinator Greg Meyer said. “I was very pleased with how the kids responded. It felt like they were in control of what we were calling and not just us telling them what to do.”
Both defenses set the tone early in the first quarter, as neither team was able to put up any points in the first 12 minutes. Midway through the first quarter, the Gryphons picked off junior quarterback Tucker Gleason, but were not able to capitalize and punted it away to the Panthers, who started their drive from their own 26-yard line as the first quarter came to an end.
Nine seconds into the second quarter, Gleason rolled right and completed a five-yard pass to sophomore running back Hayden Reed in the endzone for the first touchdown of the game. After a blocked extra point, the score was 6-0.
The defensive struggle continued throughout the second quarter as the teams combined for four punts and one turnover on downs, as the score remained 6-0 heading into halftime.
“We always kind of pride ourselves on whether we’re winning or losing or whatever, of our kids and coaches making good adjustments for how to attack the second half,” head coach Robert Weiner said.
After receiving the ball to start the second half the offense put together a five-minute drive lead by senior running back Walter Wilbon III. With six minutes and 51 seconds left in the third quarter Gleason pitched it to Wilbon who ran it in for a one-yard touchdown. The lead was extended to 13-0 after the extra point was good.
“We just felt that Sickles was a little bit smaller than we were, and we just felt that we could really pound them on the line of scrimmage,” Weiner said. “Particularly when we have such a big powerful back as Walter, and Tucker still was able to run the ball as well, so between the two of them kind of a one-two-punch in terms of the run game”
Fifteen seconds into the fourth quarter, Gleason took a shot at the endzone and completed a 33-yard pass to Wilbon, who jumped up to make the grab. The game was pushed further out of reach when the two-point conversion was run in, making the score 21-0.
“It is like a different mindset because you’re going against faster guys,” Wilbon said. “With playing running back, you’re going against linebackers, and those are kind of bigger and slower guys so it’s definitely a change of pace.”
The Gryphons were threating in the red-zone with just under eight minutes left in the game, but senior defensive back Britt Barksdale intercepted a Gryphon pass, preserving the shutout. The Panthers were forced to punt after regaining possession, and the Gryphons took the ball to the Panther 10-yard line. However, before they could make it to the endzone, the ball was fumbled and then recovered by senior linebacker Sean O’Keeffe.
“We went into the game after letting Gaither score 34 points on us, so we were just hungry for a shutout,” junior linebacker Jackson Hacker said. “Our coach just told us to keep going, keep going. He kept the ones in because he didn’t want to give up any points.”
The Panthers punted the ball away with three minutes and 27 seconds left in the game, and the Gryphons once again drove down and put themselves in scoring position. However, after stopping them on fourth down, the team completed their shutout behind a stout defensive performance.
“It was a tremendous performance, and I think most of all you have to be led by the middle of your defense,” Weiner said. “You have defensive line and you have DBs, and they’re doing a great job, but the two guys on the inside at linebacker, have to play great for you in order for you to play great.”
The defensive performance was highlighted by junior linebacker Jackson Hacker — who tied the school record for most sacks in a game with five sacks — and O’Keeffe — who accounted for 13 tackles and forced then recovered a fumble.
“Those two guys are always going to be the guys who set the tone for us,” Weiner said. “If they can play as well as they played on Friday night and that can be what continues throughout the season, we have a chance to be pretty good.”