Middle School Football
Panthers split games with Athens
By Keith Hill Bullard Banner News

-- Bullard Banner photos by Keith Hill Bullard's Jess Wood knocks down the fourth pass touchdown pass, that saved the game for the Panthers against Athens last week.

After a week off the Athens Hornets invaded Panther Stadium Tuesday night to start district play against the seventh grade Panthers, with the Panthers winning 22 to 14.

The game started off as a defensive battle until Bullard's Houston Alexander took the hand off up the middle for a touchdown, the extra point was no good but the Panthers took the lead 6-0.

Athens quickly surpassed Bullard on a long touchdown run by Shaun Taylor, their extra point attempt was good, and Athens led by two points.

Just before halftime, the Panthers Corbin Howard took the hand off and powered his way into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point was good, scored by Corbin Howard.

Bullard led 14-8.

The Hornets' Shaun Taylor answered the bell for Athens scoring a second long touchdown run.

The extra point was no good, due to Houston Alexander's defensive play. The score was then tied at 14- 14.

The seventh grade B-Team's James Bradshaw's 70-yard touchdown run, not a Athens TD run with Chris Garcia.

The Panthers' defense turned away the Hornets on a key fourth down play late in the fourth quarter lead by Jess Wood by knocking down a sure touchdown pass.

With a little less than five minutes to play Bullard's quarterback Clint Taylor led the Panther offense back on the field one last time.

Panther tightend Britt Thomas caught a crucial fourth down pass to keep the drive alive.

But once inside the red zone, the Hornet defense stiffened again, faced with another fourth down and only two minutes left on the clock the Panther coaching staff called a timeout.

Taylor then broke the huddle with the crowd on their feet and nailed Salvatore Giuliano on the four-yard line for a Panther first down. T

he coach immediately called another timeout.

Armed with the play Taylor capped off a near perfect night by drilling Colton Mebane in the corner of the end zone for the go ahead touchdown, followed by a good extra point. Bullard lead 22-14 with 1:39 left.

The Panther defense then hit the field all fired up and stood tall, refusing the Hornet advances as the clock hit 0.

The seventh grade BTeam was also in action Tuesday evening against Athens.

The Panthers fell to the Hornets 16 to 8.

Running back James Bradshaw broke a long TD run only to be called back on a holding call.

The Hornets then scored with a good extra point, Athens led 8-0.

Several plays later Bradshaw got loose for another 70 yard TD run, this time it counted.

The extra point, a pass from quarterback Colton Mebane was caught by a diving Devin Alvey.

The was score was tied 8- 8.

Unfortunately for the Panthers a hornet player took a hand off and ran the length of the field nearly tackled by Chris Garcia for the winning score,the extra point was good.