Football
PANTHERS FINISH SEASON 5-1
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By Robert Balajadia
Panthers’ Juwan Jacobs heads to the left side and is forced out of bounds by the Islanders defense. (photo by Jesse Castro)
The last weekend of regular season IIAAG football kicked off Friday night with the Guam High Panthers getting a big 40-14 win over the JFK Islanders. The Panther offense has been clicking of late and they put it all on display against a tough Islander squad that kept up with the Panthers offense for the entire first half.
Guam High scored 14 unanswered points in the second half to halt the Islander momentum, finishing the season at an impressive 5-1. The Islanders doubled their win total from last year and proved to be a tougher team than their record indicates at 2-4.
The Panthers and running back/safety Tegan Brown made adjustments during halftime that disrupted the Islander offensive flow.
“We made little things that helped us execute, our coach always goes over execution. Once we made those adjustments, were able to fulfill those executions and everything turned out fine.”
Brown had two big runs that deflated the Islander defense, including an electrifying near 90-yard touchdown scamper that looked like something out of a video game with the way he was dodging tackles. Brown’s touchdown finalized the score at 40-14 after a successful 2-point conversion.
Islanders’ receiver Wayne Jesus makes a 20 yard catch and gains the first down for his team. (photo by Jesse Castro)
“Right after and even during football season, I’m always in the gym working out. Today, my lineman were making good blocks and I just followed them,” stated Brown on his two touchdown runs. “The only other thing that was driving me was my other running back Juwan Jacobs who got a long run, I just had to beat him,” admitted Brown.
The Panthers struck first blood off an 85-yard touchdown run from running back Juwan Jacobs on their opening drive of the second quarter to go up 8-0.
JFK was quick to respond behind quarterback Quintin Iriarte and running back Jarred Hernden. Iriarte completed a big pass to receiver Kurtis Silva that brought them into the red zone. A few snaps later, Hernden found his way into the end zone from 12 yards to put the Islanders on the board. A successful PAT from kicker Logan Mance made the score 8-7.
Brown then cashed in his first touchdown on a 30-yard run on the Panthers next offensive drive to go up 16-7 after another converted 2-point try.
Islanders’ Jarred Hernden heads for the opening his defensive line creates to score a touchdown. (photo by Jesse Castro)
Iriarte then led his team into the red zone again after a big gain on the ground. He followed through by hitting receiver Wayne Jesus for a 20-yard touchdown that got the JFK crowd believing in an upset, by cutting the lead 16-14 after another Mance PAT.
Then, Panthers quarterback LJ Aguon laid out a pretty pass to receiver Austy Hines for a 48-yard touchdown bomb to go up 24-14 right before the half that seemed to completely shift momentum.
Guam High’s Terry Gellar scored off a 25-yard touchdown off a receiver reverse play to go up 32-14 late in the third quarter. The Panthers put in their second string after Brown’s final touchdown and just coasted in the fourth quarter.
It was an odd sequence for the Islanders as the Panthers were celebrating their homecoming night despite it being the Islander field.
When asked if that played a factor Brown left it at, “Nah, it’s fine. We’ve been playing on different fields all year and we know how to win on other teams fields and we know how to execute and that’s all that matters.”
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Panthers keep their eyes on the ball before kicking off to the Islanders. (photo by Jesse Castro)
Islanders’ quarterback Quintin Iriarte runs the ball out to gain the first down for his team. (photo by Jesse Castro)
Panthers’ receiver Austy Hines tips the pass which Islanders’ Jaron Weilbacher manages to scoop up before the ball hit the ground. (photo by Jesse Castro)
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