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Putnam City North

Panthers

FOOTBALL

Panthers survive a scare from Choctaw

The smell of football was in the air Friday night as high school football made its 2007 debut. Choctaw High School hosted Putnam City North for the season opener. This was a revenge game for the North Panthers as the Choctaw Yellow Jackets handed them their first loss a year ago.

The first quarter was a feeling out period as both offenses tried to find what would work.  On North’s first possession of the second quarter, their third of the game, PCN moved the ball well, but a holding penalty stalled the drive forcing a punt. The Panthers downed the punt on the Jackets 12-yard line and set up their first score.

On the first play from their 12-yard line, Choctaw quarterback Nick Chalifoux fumbled the exchange with his tailback. North’s Nic Brock recovered the ball. The Panthers capitalized on the next play with a 4-yard run by Josh Booker. Kevin Cabello added the PAT and the Panthers led 7-0.

On the ensuing possession a Choctaw miscue would lead to more Panther points. On the second play from their 20-yard line the Jackets were in the shotgun formation. The snap was over Chalifoux’s head and the race was on for the loose ball. A fraction of a second before North recovered the ball Chalifoux kicked the ball through the back of the end zone to give North a safety and a nine-point lead.

Greg Lewis took the ensuing kickoff across midfield to the Jacket 43-yard line. Quarterback Matt Veazey connected with five different receivers and accounted for all of the yards needed to score a touchdown. The final 9 yards was a screen pass to Booker. who found the end zone for the second time of the evening.  With 1:40 left in the first half the Panthers had a 16-0 lead.

On the first possession of the second half the Panthers scored for the last time. Lewis set up this score again, this time with a nice punt return to the Jacket 38-yard line. Booker ran it three straight times for 38 yards and his third touchdown. However, a fumbled snap caused North to miss the extra point kick. North’s lead was now 20 points..

The Jackets weren’t done yet. After a nice return to near midfield, they went on the march. After seven straight running plays, Choctaw slot back Ryan Coble ran a reverse for 4 yards and the Jackets closed the gap to 22-7.

In the third quarter Choctaw scored again. Coble had two carries for 43 yards on the drive and found the end zone. This score closed the gap to a one-possession game.

Choctaw got the ball back with 4:11 left in the game. This proved to be their last opportunity.  They moved the ball well, but the Panthers were fighting hard for a win.  On a third-and-13 play the Jackets were helped by a horrible pass interference call to keep the drive alive. The Panthers rebounded and forced a fourth-and-nine play from the 15-yard line.

The game was won when North’s Hunter Frantz picked off the game’s final pass with only 19 ticks left on the clock. 

The Panthers start the year with a hard fought win.

- BW