Above, a host of Bullard Panthers are set to make the tackle in the win over Mineola last Thursday night, 32-29, to remain undefeated on the season thus far. The JV will play at home on Thursday against Palestine-Westwood with the freshman game at 5 p.m. (Banner Staff Photos by Doc Smith) BULLARD – Panther quarterback Blake Rutherford rushed for 123 yards on 19 carries and threw for another 56 yards and a TD as the Bullard junior varsity took an exciting 32-29 win over Mineola on Thursday night.

After a brief delay awaiting the officiating crew, Santiago Escobar would start and finish the scoring in the game.

Escobar hit a 32-yard field goal for an early lead before Mineola’s Kendal Boyd ran in from 6-yards. Hilo Melow was good on the ‘Jackets PAT kick.

However with 55-seconds before the half, Rutherford found Jess Wood for a 13-yard scoring toss but a wide PAT kick left it at 9-7, for Bullard at the half.

Mineola regained the lead on a 13-yard TD run to start the second half scoring. Panther, Gilberto Jimenez banged in from 2- yards out to counter the score and went back to a three-point, 17-14 lead as Jimenez ran in for a PAT run conversion.

Jimenez totaled out with 73 yards in 10 carries while Jeremy Medina made three catches for 34 yards.

Defensive lineman Chris Ray had an outstanding game and forced a fumble at the ‘Jackets eight yard line and Colton Price rumbled in from there to up the score for Bullard to 23-14.Rutherford ran the two-point conversion in and a 25-14 advantage.

The YellowJackets came back as Devon Foster scored on an eight-yard run with nineseconds left in the third stanza, and a 25-22 contest with one period to play.

Escobar put up the only, and final points of the game with 2:07 left in the game as he scooted around the right end from 13 yards out and booted the PAT kick true for the 31-22 lead.

Mineola’s, Ross Flornoy topped off the scoring for Mineola with a six-yard run with 42-seconds left, The PAT kick was good and the Bullard JV remains undefeated at 2-0 with the win.