North Lamar offense in the huddle prior to the opening play in Friday night’s win against S & S.
Sadler, TX – It wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination but a win is a win and the North Lamar Panthers (3–0) will take the 24 – 22 victory over the S&S Rams Friday night. North Lamar got their first taste of fall weather at the same time they played their first road game on the young season. North Lamar stepped off the bus as a cold front had moved through the area. Game-time temperature was in the lower sixties and the field was muddy from the rain we received in the area. It was perfect football conditions.
The Panthers, however, found themselves in a hole less than a minute into the game as Keitron Reed was tackled for a safety in the end zone. The Panthers received the opening kick off. However, the receiver tried running the ball out of the end zone and was tackled at the two yard line, which led to the eventual two points.
There was a strong wind coming out of the North which caused problems all night long. Neither team would score going into the wind. Luckily for the Panthers, they held their opponent scoreless in the first quarter. Unfortunately, though, North Lamar couldn’t do anything as they were facing into the 15–20 mph wind.
“The wind was tough,” coach Tim Billings said after the game. “It effected the kicking game on.”
It wasn’t until the second quarter, with the wind to their back, that the Panthers were able to start moving the football. The Panthers, after three straight punts to open the game, got their first touchdown with just under nine minutes to play in the half. North Lamar took the ball 54 yards in just over two minutes. The drive was capped off by a Jevon Franklin 11 yard touchdown run.
Keitron Reed with a run around the left side Friday against S & S.
Their next possession resulted in a Reed touchdown. Backup quarterback Tyler Anthony handed the ball to Keitron on every play as he carried the team 60 yards on the drive. Just like that, North Lamar held on to a 14 – 2 lead at the halftime break.
The second half start was the extreme opposite of the way the first half started for the Panthers. The Kris Stephens kickoff to start the half went through the hand of the S&S reciever, allowing a Panther to jump on it at the 22 yard line. Two plays later, Anthony was standing in the end zone for North Lamar. Stephens would tack on a 25 yard field goal later in the quarter and North Lamar seemed set to win the game.
Holding on to a 24 – 2 lead, the Panthers just needed to run out the clock and bring home the victory. Unfortunately for North Lamar, the Rams would now have the wind to their back.
Facing a fourth and eight with 9:46 left in the ball game, S&S quarterback Cameron Prewitt hit Ben Franklin for an 11 yard completion and a first down. Two plays later, Brandon Jones walked into the end zone. Jones would also run the ball in for the two-point conversion.
North Lamar was unable to pick up a first down and faced punting into the wind. The Anthony punt went out of bounds after netting only 19 yards on the kick.
On another fourth down play for the Rams with 5:19 to play in the game, Prewitt hit his target in stride for a 26 yard touchdown pass. North Lamar was able to block the extra point attempt, leaving the score 24 – 16.
Dakota Grissom (83), Casey Harper (54) and Keitron Reed (5) listen to the coaching staff on the sidelines Friday night.
The offense could only manage one first down on the next possession and was forced to punt the ball back to the Rams. This time, though, the snap sailed over Tyler’s head. Anthony picked the ball up at the North Lamar ten and tried to make something happen but was met by a mob of Ram defenders. S&S had the ball on the ten yard line with just over three minutes to play.
Four plays later, on another fourth down, Prewitt hits another target for a five yard touchdown. Needing a two-point conversion to tie the game, the Rams put the ball in their quarterback’s hands. The Panthers defense stepped up, though, as they pressured the young quarterback into making a poor throw which was batted down by the Panther defenders
North Lamar would run out the clock and surpass last years win total in the process. North Lamar will welcome Anna to R.L. Maddox stadium next Friday night for their Homecoming game.
By: Greg Higgins, eParisExtra
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