The Gold Beach Panther football team continued it’s march to the post-season Thursday evening, traveling to Waldport to take on the Perrydale Pirates in a match-up critical to the Panthers post-season placement.
The Panthers wasted no time, jumping out to an early lead in the contest. The Pirate defense struggled to contain the Panther offensive attack and fell behind early with Gold Beach racking up 40 points in the first half of play.
The Pirates came out in the second half of play and put their half-time adjustments to use, recovering an on-side kick to start the 3rd quarter and driving to the endzone for a touchdown to start the second half of play.
The Panther defense, sitting on a 40-8 lead to start the second half, after the Gold Beach offense dominated the first half of play, watched as the Pirate offense dominated the 2nd half of play, putting up 20 points.
But the Gold Beach defense was able to squelch the Pirate’s desperate attempts to make the game close, and took home the 40-28 win to finish a successful 2021/2022 season, sending the Panthers football program into post-season play.
Talking with Coach Higgins after the game, he told the compass “We certainly faced adversity tonight and were able to come out ahead…” he said. “I know great teams have to face moments like these to become great, and I believe Thursday nights contest was a building moment for us.., We were happy to get out with the W and move into post-season play with a 4 game win streak at our back.”
Completing the season with a 6-2 overall record, the Panthers now await the OSAA rankings to be completed and to receive their first opponent and post-season schedule.
