The schools delayed the start of the game to help slightly with the heat but both squads were showing signs of exhaustion in the crucial fourth quarter. A fourth down stop with 1:51 left on the Panther 24 yard line sent the huge Erie-Prophetstown crowd home with the win.
The Panthers came into the contest with a 2-0 record and Kewanee was 1-1 as they barely fell to powerful Rockridge and then upset Newman last week. The Boilermakers have three 300 pound lineman on their roster and some other good size players in their starting lineup.
The opening quarter started with EP moving into Kewanee territory on a couple good Tristan Hovey runs before their drive stalled on the Kewanee 40. The Boilers then moved into Panther territory and on a third and 24 got 15 yards on a reverse and 15 more on a Panther penalty to move to the 18. Two plays later running back LaFollette bowled into the end zone and with the kick they led 7-0 with 3:06 left in the period.
Both teams threw interceptions on their next possessions, the second one being picked off by Panther, Caleb Brown on the home teams one yard line ending another threat. EP got one first down but was then faced with a 3rd and 24 on their 23. Quarterback, Evan Steimle found Brown open on the right sideline and he outran two Boiler defenders and went 77 yards for the tying score.
That’s where things stood at halftime when 130 little Panther cheerleaders took 10 minutes to entertain the big crowd.
Kewanee took the second half kickoff and moved into Panther territory before having a couple penalties stop their progress and they turned it over to EP on the 42. Steimle found Lane Decker open for 23 yards on a big conversion that helped get into scoring position. From the six yard line Steimle followed big offensive lineman Caleb Reymer into the end zone with 4 minutes left in the third period. A bad kick left it 13-7 EP.
Kewanee didn’t take much time scoring themselves as they took advantage of a roughing the passer call to get a big first down to the Panther 41. Lane Taylor then broke loose from a couple Panthers and scored down the sideline. The extra point made it 14-13 Kewanee entering the final 12 minutes.
The Panthers moved the ball again but a fumbled long snap was covered by Kewanee early in the fourth. A big fourth down stop by Reymer got the ball back to EP in Kewanee territory at the 42.
Steimle connected with Brown again on an out pattern and Caleb eluded the defender and turned it up running 30 yards into the end zone to give the home team a 20-14 lead with 8:58 remaining.
The defenses took over near the end as both squads were spent but giving it their all. An incomplete pass on 4th and 6 on EP’s 24 was the last big play before EP ran out the clock.
A sweaty coach Tyler Whitebread was all smiles after the game. “We knew we were in for a dogfight. Kewanee always plays hard and they are so big physically. We put together some great drives overcoming some dumb penalties and found a way to get it done. Both teams were tired but I think our lines won it in that final period. Next week at Newman in now huge.”
Hovey finished the game with an outstanding 20 carries for 158 yards to lead the Panther attack. Steimle was 3-7 passing for 104 yards one TD and one INT.
A great defensive effort was led by Steimle, Hovey, Reymer and Derek Naftzger who all tallied 5 or more tackles.
Both teams were called for numerous penalties during the contest.
The Panthers are hoping for some cooler temperatures during the week coming up as they prepare for a big showdown at Sterling High School Saturday afternoon against the always tough Newman Comets who defeated Princeton 23-7 to move to 2-1.
