Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  It didn’t begin well. It didn’t end well.

The Nederland Panthers’ first home game of the season was a frustrating overwhelming loss, 18-66, with the clock running during the second half. Score by quarter: 6-0, 46-12, 8-6, 6-0.

The first play of the game resulted in a Saints’ long pass completion that was brought down by Nederland’s Trig Campbell to keep from making it a first play touchdown. Vail marched the ball into the Panther’s red zone where the Ned boys put up a five-play stand that kept the Saints from scoring.

Beginning on their own 15 yard line, the Panthers fumbled the ball and Vail entered the end zone in three plays.

The conversion was no good and the Saints were ahead 6-0.

The Panthers were forced for punt. Mike Wood had a solid kick and Nederland made successful tackles and kept Vail in its own territory until the end of the first quarter.

But in a couple of first downs, the Saints moved in on the Panthers and scored, with a conversion to lead 14-0. Two Vail touchdowns later, both teams took a break while two injured Saints were treated, one transported by ambulance.

When the game commenced, Ned quarterback Jaylan Rasdall completed a pass to Mike Wood and in a fourth down and 10 situation, completed another pass to Jack Abendroth who made the touchdown.

With three minutes in the half, Nederland was on the board 6-28. It was a grim three minutes. Vail retaliated with a 65-yard line touchdown run. After recovering a fumble, and with 51 seconds on the clock Vail score again. It was 6-44.

From the 23 yard line of their own territory and 45 seconds left in the game, Rasdall completed a pass to Quin Kuechenmeister who took off down the sidelines, all the way in for a touchdown. It was 12-44 with 27 seconds to go and there was a glimmer of hope in the Nederland stands.

But the Ned kickoff was caught and then carried all the way into the Panther end zone and the score was 12-52 as the half ended. The second half was played with a running clock and it went fast. Nederland scored again and Vail scored twice and the game was over.