Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  In the last game of the season, the Nederland Panthers hosted the Del Norte Tigers and won the big cat fight on their home field, 52 -7.  Because they played as an independent team, they will not be participating in the league playoffs. Ned fans enjoyed another sun-filled football game on their home turf, a great end to a great season.

Panther Kenny Shankey recovered a Tigers fumble in Del Norte’s first possession and two plays later, the Panthers fumbled the ball which was recovered by the Tigers on their own 5-yard line. They couldn’t move out of danger and Nederland picked up two points on a safety.

The Tigers, in one of their longest possessions, had three first downs by didn’t move the ball past their own 31-yard line and the Panthers took over. In a great run, Kenny Shankey took the ball into Tiger territory and Keyghan Otten caught the pass from quarterback Jaylan Rasdall for a touchdown. Caleb Pugmire kicked the extra point and the Panthers were ahead, 9-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Del Norte was once again caught deep in their own territory, unable to move out of trouble when the Panthers took over on the Tiger five-yard line. Shankey ran the ball in for a touchdown and the two-point conversion was successful and the score was upped to 17-0.

The Panther’s on-side kick worked and Ned took over the ball. Rasdall ran it in for another touchdown. The extra point was good and the score was 24-0.

With retaliatory energy pushing them on, the Tigers moved the ball to mid field and then into Panther range, completing a long pass to put them on the scoreboard, 24-7.

The Tigers were never able to reach the end zone again and the Panthers scored 28 more points before the end of the game. Many of next year’s players had a chance to get on the field and play ball in front of their hometown fans.

Nine Panthers will graduate in June including: Gabe Larabee, Keyghan Otten, Jaylan Rasdall, Bob Allen, Kenny Shankey, Hunter Chilcote, Trig Campbell, Jean-Luc Pinneau and Caleb Pugmire.

They will have a victorious last game to remember.

Points by quarter:

9-0 21-7 16-0 6-0

Individual Statistics:

Jaylan Rasdall, senior: 13 completions of 19 attempts for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns; 6 carries for 89 yards and 1 touchdown; 1 reception for 45 yards, 1 rushing conversion

Damon Vigil, sophomore: 1 pass completion for 34 yards and 1 touchdown

Caleb Pugmire, senior: 1 completion for 1 yard. received 3 passes for 69 yards, made 3 solo tackles, 9 kickoffs for 368 yards and 5 touchbacks, 2 kickoff returns for 77 yards, 2 PATs

Aubrey Charlson, junior: 4 carries for 12 yards

Kenny Shankey, senior: 9 carries for 51 yards and 1 touchdown, 2 receptions for 10 yards, 6 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

Jean-Luc Pinneau, senior: 1 carry for 9 yards,1 reception for 4 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 kickoff return for 25 yards

1 kickoff return for 25 yards

Chris Francis, freshman: 4 carries for 30 yards and 2 touchdowns, 6 tackles

B. Schreiner, freshman: 3 carries for 10 yards, 1 assist, 1 2-point conversion

Jared Rasdall, sophomore: 2 receptions for 4 yards, 3 solo tackles, 1 reception for a 2-point conversion.

Keyghan Otten, senior: 1 reception for 34 yards and 1 touchdown, 11 solo tackles, 4 assists, 1 sack

Hunter Chilcote, senior: 3 solo tackles, 2 assists

Rain Larabee, sophomore: 5 solo tackles, 2 sacks

Taylor Hoffman, sophomore: 6 solo tackles, 3 sacks

Trig Campbell, senior: 1 fumble recovery, 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 5 receptions for 83 yards and 1 touchdown