PANTHERS SHOCK DOLPHINS 18-7

By Patrick Lujan

It’s not the quantity, it’s the quality.

The Guam High Panthers had several factors working against them but somehow came away with a huge 18-7 win over the previously undefeated Southern Dolphins Saturday afternoon at their home field in high school football action.

The Panthers had only 22 players suited up, while the Dolphins had 45. Southern controlled the game with ball control, having 48 offensive plays to Guam High’s 19. But it was the big plays from the Panthers that did it all.

Senior talent Christian Polite had two electrifying touchdowns to lead Guam High: a 66-yard end around run down the right side to put the Panthers ahead 12-7 in the 3rd quarter, and the game-sealing 70-yard interception return off a ricochet late in the 4th quarter.

“It was huge, man,” Polite said about his pick six. “They kept threatening us with some touchdowns….all it takes is just one play. I just said, ‘Gotta go, gotta go’.”

“We’re proud of how hard the players worked,” new Guam High head coach Terrance Young said. “They were tired but never defeated, and every player stepped up to the challenge. Even with some players out, they gave it their all and played with heart from start to finish.”

Fellow senior Noah Harris, the lone star carry over from last season, scored the Panthers’ first TD on a 9-yard double reverse in the 2nd quarter that would cut a Southern lead to 7-6. Harris also came up big on the defensive side with a game-high 7.5 tackles.

“This win means a lot,” Harris said. “We started (the season) late, got a lot of (gear) in late, but we work hard to catch up to everybody, and we showed that.”

Southern’s Chances

Talented running back Kaden Cruz, who was the workhorse with 99 yards on 21 carries, got the Dolphins on the board first on a five-yard off tackle in the 2nd quarter.

Southern, however, found themselves trailing 12-7 into the final period, but their confidence didn’t rush the tempo. They went to Cruz for five straight carries to the left side of the line that brought them to a 1st-and-goal opportunity.

Backup QB Johnnie Brub was brought in with their power package and two strong pushes brought the ball to the Guam High 1-yard line. But Southern, which is the most penalized team in the league, committed two costly penalties that brought the ball back to the 18. The Panthers held strong as Rai Johnson intercepted Ghesan Gaje in the end zone on 4th and long.

The Dolphins had one last chance when Mason Calvo recovered a fumble on the ensuing drive.

But Gaje’s long pass over the middle bounced off his receiver and into the hands of Polite, who sprinted down the left side for the game-sealer.

Guam High had five of their plays go for over 30 yards, something Harris credits the raw speed of some of their players.

“That’s all we worked on. We’re the fastest team on the island.”

SCORING SUMMARY

2nd Quarter

Southern: 7-0 – Kaden Cruz 5 yard run (Dela Cruz kick)

Guam High: 7-6 – Noah Harris 9 yard run (pass failed)

3rd Quarter

Guam High: 12-7 – Christian Polite 66 yard run (pass failed)

4th Quarter

Guam High: 18-7 – Christian Polite 70 yard interception return (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATS

PASSING

Southern: Gaje 4-15-2 81 yds, Brub 0-0-0 0 yds; GH: Flinn 1-9-0 51 yds

RUSHING

Southern: K. Cruz 21-99, Esteves 5-12, Brub 3-5, Torres 1-3, Acovera 1-0, Gaje 1-(-1), Jesus 1-(-1); GH: Polite 2-84, Harris 7-74, Flinn 1-4

RECEIVING

Southern: Esteves 2-51, Tablan 1-22, Mantanona 1-8; GH: Johnson 1-51

TOP TACKLES

Southern: Quinata 3.5, Agustin 1.5, Atoigue 1.5; GH: Harris 7.5, Krueger 7, J. Cruz 5.5

SACKS

Southern: 3 (Agustin, F. Cruz, Tablan); GH: 2 (J. Cruz, Guerrero)

INTERCEPTIONS

Southern: 0; GH: 2 (Johnson, Polite)

PENALTIES

Southern: 6-50; GH: 8-55

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