Panthers Exploited by Christopher Columbus, 35-7

If the 2011 football season were a sprint, the Panthers would be in big trouble. Luckily, it’s a marathon and the Panthers still have time to put things together.

“We’re missing four of our five starters from the spring game on the offensive line,” said offensive line coach Sean Love.

It showed.

The tenacious Columbus Explorers were in the backfield all night and the best offensive plays the Panthers had were quarterback scrambles. The defense had spells when they tightened up, but they ultimately were exploited by the gold-seeking Explorers.

Stumbling out of the blocks hit on many levels Friday night.

Head Coach Rob Weiner stumbled out of the tunnel, coming onto the field and jacked up his knee so bad he had to ride in a golf cart, with an ice wrap for the whole second half. The Panthers went three and out on their opening possession and had the punt blocked. On Plant’s next possession, the punt was blocked again, this time recovered for a touchdown 7-0 Columbus.

The Panthers stumbled again when Columbus linebacker Jordan Guest stripped the ball and ran it in for a touchdown, making it 14-0. The Columbus defenders were in the backfield frequently and Plant just did not have time to let a play develop. Columbus lineman Luis Quintana thought he had a sack on Plant senior quarterback James Few, but Few squirted through his clutches and scampered for a first down.

Another bright spot was when senior lined up to bring down hulking Columbus full back Jorge Lorenzo who had a clear shot to the end zone with just Crawford in his way. Crawford went low and brought the big man down. However, the Columbus possession spilled into the second quarter and Brandon Radcliffe spilled into the end zone to make it 21-0.

Finally the Panthers mounted a drive and got to the doorstep of the Explorers’ end zone. On third down, junior quarterback Aaron Banks ran a naked bootleg to the left, tried to juke a defender, defender didn’t bite, but Banks was able to outrace him to the pylon for Plant’s lone touchdown. 21-7.

The Panther defense managed a stop to end the half, thanks greatly to a nice play by senior Patrick Wright.

The start of the second half was ugly. There were five penalties before Plant began their opening possession. Again, the Columbus defense was swarming and overpowering, and the Panthers could do next to nothing on offense.

“It takes five guys doing their job every play,” said Love. “They were showing us three, four, five man fronts; giving us lots of looks.”

The Panthers defense did make a nice play on Columbus’ opening possession, junior Mitchell Wright breaking through and starting the sack with help from seniors Patrick Wright and Tate Rodgers.

The next possession, Columbus receiver Jesus Wilson battled Plant’s senior for a completion at mid field, won the ball away and slipped away from Madhu for the score, making it 28-7.

Columbus added insult to injury on their last drive when it looked like the Panthers had them stopped on a fourth and short. The Explorers ran up to the line and hurried a quarterback sneak for the first down. That drive was punctuated by a very good run from Columbus’ Garrett Fortner, finalizing the score at 35-7.

“We’re going to find some good things that come out of this,” said head coach Rob Weiner.

It was a tough loss for the Panthers; but if everyone remembers last year when they lost to Manatee in the pre season game, everybody was saying this might be a down year for Plant.

Not the case.

They will bounce back from this one, hopefully get some of their offensive line healthy, and take on rival Jesuit next Friday.

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