JFK ‘D’ BLANKS CRIPPLED PANTHERS

By Patrick Lujan

The JFK Islanders brought the heat on defense Friday night in a big 14-0 win over the Guam High Panthers, who were struggling offensively without their senior starting quarterback.

With Jujuan King on the bench out of uniform nursing a leg injuring, JFK frustrated the three rotating Guam High quarterbacks of Nick Anderson, Trip Chauret and T.J. Aguon.

Outside of a meaningless long run by Aguon on the last play of the game, the Islanders defense allowed just 50 yards of total offense by the Panthers – only 15 yards in the second half.

Meanwhile, the running back by committee concept worked for JFK as they slowly grinded their opponents with counter runs after counter runs. Juniors Marcos Manglona and Sean Gomez along with senior Sage Garcia powered the Islanders ground game.

JFK got on the board quickly, blocking a Guam High punt on the first possession of the game. With great field position at the Panthers 15, Manglona took it in from nine-yards out, weaving his way off the right side to hit paydirt.

It was a defensive battle the rest of the first half as both teams struggled to move the ball. The Islanders had only 34 total yards in the first half while the Panthers gained 35.

The Panthers had their best shot of scoring in the start of the third quarter when Chauret – playing ironman ball – forced a fumble with a devastating hit that gave Guam High the ball at the JFK 21.

They made it all the way to the JFK 5-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs.

The Islanders offense then took over momentum as their running backs started to tire the  Panthers defense.

Two possessions later, JFK drove down the field on a seven-play series that resulted in a pop pass from Ricky Brown to tight end Johnny Quitugua over the middle for a five-yard score. JFK never looked back from there.

Manglona’s 47 yards rushing on the ground led the JFK offense of 167 yards total on the game – good enough for the defensive performance on the other side of the ball.

“With our QB carousal and very young offensive line, we can only get better,” said Guam High head coach Jacob Dowdell.

Wendy’s players of the game: (22) Sage Garcia and (27) Marcus Manglona helped control the JFK Islanders run game in their win over the Panthers. (photo by Richard Camacho iV)

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Sean Gomez Struggles to break free of the Panther Defensive line. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)

JFK Islanders’ Sage Garcia runs a play and is taken down by Guam Highs Makoa Bamba. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)

JFK’s Marcos Manglona storms past the Panthers defensive end on a sweep run. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)

Panther Keith ‘Trip’ Chauret, forced to play quarterback because of an injury to Jujuan King, gets flushed out of bounds by the JFK Islander defense.

The JFK Islanders pass defense was on-point, making it tough for the Panthers to throw the ball down field. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)

Panther Makoa Bamba rises through two Islander defenders for what would’ve been a great catch. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)