“The win moved us to 7-0, and a big matchup with Riverdale looms,” said coach Kyle Foster. “Right now that is our last guaranteed game (I have not heard from Hall about a week 9 game yet), so our boys know it is important to finish what they have set out to do this year. Our goal all year has been to prove EP is at the top of the TRAC for the foreseeable future, and we have another step to take in that direction on Monday.”
It took EP just a few plays to take the lead after receiving the opening kickoff. A 42-yard run by Keegan Thompson set up the Panthers at the MerCo 15. Anden Kochevar took a pitch for quarterback Justin Pierceson and scampered into the endzone for a 7-0 Panther lead.
The EP defense forced a three and out and took over on their own 37. Kaleb Thompson rumbled 17 yards to put the ball deep in Golden Eagle’s territory but the drive stalled and the Panthers turned the ball over on downs to start the second quarter.
Mercer County put together a drive that included a 32-yard pass play that put the ball near the EP 30. On a 4th and 9 EP’s Jaxon Alls gathered in a fluttering pass to end the MerCo drive at the EP 32.
Walker Wright broke off a 23-yard run to put the ball at the Mercer County 37. Pierceson called his own number and sprinted up the middle before cutting right and glided into the score zone to make it 14-0 with 2:15 left in the first half.
On Mercer County’s next possession EP’s Will Atkinson pounced on a fumble to give the Panthers the ball on their own 47. Coach Kyle Foster dipped into his offensive gadget plays and called a halfback option, which EP ran to perfection. Pierceson pitched to Wright who launched the ball down field to a wide open Kochevar to push the lead to 20-0.
The Panther defense showed up big again on MerCo’s next possession as Ethan Meier was left unblocked and hit the MerCo quarterback who coughed up the ball with EP recovering. The Panthers took over at the Golden Eagle’s 25. Pierceson and Keegan Thompson moved the ball to the 3 on a pair of rushes. On the final play of the half Pierceson rolled right and finally found Wright in the corner of the endzone to make it 26-0 at the half.
The Golden Eagles took the kickoff to start the third quarter and never gave it up driving to the Panther 15. In the fourth quarter they kept banging away at the EP interior and finally pushed the ball across the goal line with 6:26 left in the game to trail 26-6.
The ensuing kickoff was covered by MerCo as the ball bounced off the facemask of a Panther up man. The EP defense stiffened and eventually got the ball back as a 4th and 13 pass fell incomplete. With the ball at mid-field Keegan Thompson broke free and ran to the house to make the final 32-6.
“We had a dominant offensive performance tonight,” said Foster. “Our young O-line has shown so much confidence and growth this season. Their intelligence and ability to learn and adapt cannot be understated, and it’s a testament to the work Coach Widener and Coach Demay put in each week. They are able to create great running lanes for our solid backing core, and they give Justin (Pierceson) quality protection to throw the ball.”
“Defensively we played well overall. We hit a wall in the third quarter, with MerCo putting together a 13-minute scoring drive. We were able to rebound after losing the onside kick and get a good stop at the end of the game with our second team defensive players.”
The young Panthers will host Riverdale next Monday.
