BAY AREA PANTHERS KICKOFF SEASON WITH A WIN
San Jose, CA — In a night of firsts the Panthers earned a significant milestone in their fledgling history, victory number one. The first half featured a plethora of penalties as the Panthers and Strike Force settled into the game. The teams traded touchdowns, with former Panther Davonte Sapp-Lynch scoring for the Strike Force, and Quarterback Cory Murphy answering with the first touchdown in Panthers history. Daniel Crowell Jr. contributed with a touchdown catch and a big special teams tackle.
The game pace picked up considerably as each team settled into the game to start the second half. The Panthers and Strike Force went back and forth to start the second half. A second score by Sapp-Lynch, flying over the goal line for 6, put the strike force up by 10, but another missed extra point by Tanner Kulijan kept the game close. Clutch runs by Panthers QB Joseph Newman put the Panthers in prime scoring position culminating in an 8-yard touchdown scamper to bring them within a score. A botched snap on the PAT kept it a 4-point game. A key panthers stop on 4th down to end the 3rd quarter gave them prime field position to start the 4th.
A Panthers field goal by Kicker Stevie Artigue at 8:58 cut the deficit to 1 point. The next Strike Force drive was stymied by a clutch interception by Marcellus Pippins and the subsequent return set up the Panthers at the Strike Force 9-yard line with a chance to take the lead. The Panthers were unable to capitalize as a missed FG kept the SD lead at 1. Another big fourth down stop by the Panthers with 1:09 remaining gave them a final opportunity to win the game. A big run up the gut by RB Dawonya Tucker set up the Panthers in prime scoring position. Veteran QB, Murphy’s second rushing TD gave the panthers their final lead with 21 seconds to play. However, another missed two-point conversion attempt kept the lead at 5. A big catch by Strike Force WR Amechi Walker set up the Strike Force at the 3 with 6 seconds left and a chance to steal a win. However, Davonte Sapp-Lynch was stopped at the one-inch line with no time left to preserve the win for the Panthers in their first ever game.
Coach Kurt Bryan post game: – “As we had expected coming into the game, Davonte Sapp-Lynch was outstanding for them, he’s an extremely talented player. But I am super proud of our defense, they really saved the day for us and gave us the chance to win.“ Coach Bryan continued, “We gave the game-ball to our entire defense. We made some opportune plays, but we need to clean up the penalties and shake off the rust before next week’s game in Arizona.”
The Panthers will travel to Northern Arizona to face the Wranglers on March 26.