Panthers’second half defense stifles Swifts

The Whitharral Panthers, ranked 25th among all six-man high school football teams in Texas by sixmanfootball.com, took a while to get rolling on their way to a convincing 54-24 home win over the no. 23 Nazareth Swifts last Friday. Whitharral moves up to no. 21, while Nazareth drops to 37th in the weekly overall rankings.

“Nazareth is a great team,” said Whitharral Head Football Coach Jeremy Holt. “Our kids came out prepared for a battle.”

Whitharral combined a high powered offense with a stifling defense. The Swifts were held to only eight points in the second half. The Panthers racked up 404 yards offense against the Swifts’ 210. Holt credited team work as well as talent for the win. “Shay (Shamadrick Weaver) had another great day offensively and Nomar (Gomez) had a great defensive game, but our kids are quick to give credit to the whole team,” he said. “We still have work to do, but our kids have accepted the challenge,” he added. “I’m very proud to be part of it.”

The first score didn’t come until there were just eight seconds left in the first quarter, when Shamadrick Weaver broke loose for 42 yards on a fourth down and 10.

Jack Griffin’s kick was good for an 8-0 Panther lead. The second quarter saw both teams trade scores. Nazareth started the period at second down and 13 yards to go with the ball on their own 38-yard-line.

Hard running brought the Swifts down to the Whitharral four yard line, facing fourth down and three yards. Luke Schulte got the call and plowed his way into the endzone. Brett Heitschmidt’s kick tied the score at eight each.

Whitharral wasted no time answering. An attempt to pin the Panthers back with a deep kick resulted in a 16 yard return from Brent Robinson and a first down and 15 on the Nazareth 38 yard line. Two plays later, on second down and 11 yards, Weaver broke another run loose for a 34 yard touchdown and a 16-8 lead after Griffin’s kick. The Swifts started on their own 29 yard line and went to Schulte again. A 20 yard run followed by a 23 yard pass to Heitschmidt gave Nazareth a first down and goal on the Panther eight yard line. Sterl Welps gained a couple of yards on first down, then Schulte finished the job for six yards and a touchdown. Heitschmidt’s kick was blocked, but Whitharral was called for offsides and the second try made it through the uprights for a 16-16 tie with 5:11 left in the half.

Nazareth’s defense stiffened on the next Whitharral drive. Starting on the Swifts’ 38yard-line, the Panthers had gained only four yards in three plays, when Weaver broke loose for 29 yards and a first down and goal at the Nazareth five-yard-line.

Weaver lost two yards on the next carry. Kaden Smith could only gain back the lost yards on second down, so the Panthers went to the air. Jeryn Ellard found Jarrett Fryar open for five yards and a Panther touchdown.

Griffin’s kick made the score 24-16 Whitharral with 1:38 left in the half. After forcing Nazareth to turn over on downs, the Panthers began a drive that ended with an unusual play at half-time. The drive opened with the officials calling Whitharral for a blind-side block and moving them back to their own 30 yard line.

Three plays later, facing third down and 26 yards, Weaver again got the call, twisting and turning for 47 yards and a touchdown as time ran out in the first half. The score was called back, however, for holding. Since a half cannot end on a penalty, the Swifts’ coach was left in a quandary.

If he took the penalty, the Panthers would have another chance at a score – something that was very possible. If he declined, the Panthers would lead 30-16 with the possibility of another two points from the kick going into the half.

Nazareth accepted the penalty, which turned out to be the best decision for the Swifts as Weaver was only able to gain 26 yards on the required untimed play.

The half ended with Whitharral leading Nazareth, 2416.

Nazareth started the third quarter with the ball, but were forced to turn over on downs after four plays.

Whitharral took over on their own 32 yard line. Ellard found Weaver open on second down and 15 for 28 yards and a first down and 15 at the Nazareth 20.

An Ellard to Smith combination brought the ball down to the Swifts’ five-yardline.

Two plays later, Weaver crossed the goal line again. Griffin’s kick was good for a 32-16 Whitharral lead with 4:48 left in the third quarter. Nazareth’s last score came on their next drive.

The Swifts started on their own 32-yard-line and were stymied on the Whitharral 36 yard line, when a roughing the passer call gave them a first down and 15 on the Panthers’ 21 yard line. Schulte broke loose for 21 yards and a touchdown with 2:22 left in the third quarter. The Swifts trailed 32-24 with 2:22 left in the third period. After that, it was all Whitharral.

The Panthers took over on their own 34-yard-line at the 2:22 mark. They moved the ball to the Nazareth 32 with a completed pass from Weaver to Rayden Potter. Three Weaver runs later, Whitharral made the score 38-21 after a rare missed kick from Griffin.

Nazareth had three more possessions in the game that went punt, turn over on downs and interception. Whitharral put up insurance scores with a pass from Weaver to Robinson at the 8:43 mark and a Weaver to Smith combination with 4:19 left in the game.

Weaver went 5-for-5 for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Ellard went 9-for-10 for 73 yards and a touchdown. Weaver also had 20 carries for 221 yards and four touchdowns. Cason Wischkaemper had five carries for 12 yards. Smith had a single two yard carry.

Griffin had three catches for 44 yards. Weaver had three for 40 yards. Smith had two catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. Wischkaemper had two catches for 19 yards. Robinson had a 17 yard catch, Potter had one for 14 yards, Jarrett Fryar had a single five yard catch and Dawson Rodgers had a three yard grab.

Nomar Gomez had 14 ½ tackles. Potter had 10. Weaver had 3 ½. Victor Saenz had 2 ½. Robinson had two. Griffin and Ryan McDaniel had one each and Rodgers had an assist. Griffin went 5-for-6 kicking extra points. Robinson was 1-for- 1.

Weaver, Robinson and Ellard each had a kick return. Weaver’s went for 33 yards, Robinson’s for 16 and Ellard’s for nine yards.

The Panthers will start district play Friday night when they host Hart at 7:30 p.m.