Gold Beach football and head coach Chris Higgins continue to their winning ways, now looking back at a dominating 5 game win streak that has put the Panthers at the top of mountain in terms of league ranking.
Friday night in Gold Beach the Panthers took the field defending a 4 game win streak, facing a confident Reedsport Braves team determined to take home their first win of the season.
The Panthers, looking to establish a lead early, took their first possession all the way down to the Reedsport 7 yard line, where junior quarterback Jake Westerman, #7, called his own number and took the ball on quarterback option sweep to the right side of the endzone just over 1:00 minute into the first quarter.
On the following kick-off, Panther freshman Nolan Timeus, #14, jumped on short Panther kick, recovering the loose ball and returning it back to the Panther offense. Less than two minutes later, the Panther offense handed the ball to senior Landyn Miller, #12, who turned around and threw the ball back to Westerman on a half back pass for a 34 yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead in the first three minutes of play.
The Panther defense has been relentless so far this season, using their speed to contain other teams to few yards and getting the ball back to the Gold Beach offense. After another Reedsport drive stalled in the first quarter, the Panthers were facing a 3rd and 10 on their own 30 yard line. Jake Westerman took the ball on sweep to the right side 70 yards to the endzone giving the Panthers a 20-0 lead after the first quarter of play.
Gold Beach found themselves deep in Reedsport territory early in the second period, Westerman would drop back and hit junior wide-receiver Tanner Wright, #5, for a 14 yard touchdown. Now sitting on a commanding 28-0 lead, the Panthers would keep their foot on the gas and continued to produce big plays. Junior wide-receiver Zane GIbson, #3, would be the next weapon to strike the Braves defense after receiving a short pass to the left flat, and out running the entire field before scoring on a 40 yard touchdown on the right side of the endzone.
But Reedsport would not be denied the endzone entirely after a special teams touchdown when Reedsport picked up a Panthers on-side kick and returned to the endzone for a Reedsport touchdown making the score 36-6, Panthers. But their celebration would be short lived as the Panther Zane Gibson, #3, took the ensuing Reedsport kick-off and returned it 70 yards to pay-dirt for another quick Panther score.
The Panther defense stayed stingy, and junior linebacker, Nelson Wilstead, #11 stepped in front of the Reedsport receiver intercepting the deep pass, and returning it to the endzone for the defensive touchdown, making the score 52-6. Junior running back Braidon Flynn, #10, would complete the Panther offensive onslaught, scampering into the endzone on a power dive play in the middle of the Panther line.
Reedsport would find the endzone a final time in the second half, but the Panthers would go on to take the 58-14 win, and will now play King of the Mountain for the remainder of the season, as the Panthers are no longer a secret, but a rather a target, sitting at the top of OSAA rankings.
“I was happy we could come out and just play Panther football to start the game.” coach Higgins said after the game. “5-0 is a good feeling, but we still have along ways to go. We need to continue to work hard in practice and get better daily.”
The Panther look to continue their winning ways taking the show on the road this Friday, traveling to take on the Chieftains in Rogue River Friday evening at 7:00pm.
