Panther Regular Season Ends in Tough Loss
The Concordia High School football team once again played at home after their loss to the Rock Creek Mustangs to host Norton on Friday, October 25th and fell to the Bluejays 27-7.
Norton (7-1, 3-1 in Class 2A District 7) traveled to Concordia after a huge 50-21 upset loss to MCL rival Phillipsburg, looking to bounce back heading into the postseason. However, the Panthers held strong forcing a three-and-out on the first drive of the game. Both defenses played tough leaving the scoreboard blank after the first quarter. Head Coach Brad Wildeman joined KNCK Radio in the Panther Postgame and spoke on his defenses effort.
The second quarter looked like the same story, but the punter for the Panthers Parker Jackson pinned the Bluejays at their own one yard line giving the Concordia defense momentum to stop the Bluejay offense. However, after marching down the field, the Bluejays cap off an 8 play, 99 yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run by Norton Quarterback Eli Jones with 4 minutes left to play in the half.
The Panther offense needed a score to bring some momentum their way going into the half. However, after only a minute and a half of game time, Bluejay corner Tyce Melvin picked off Quarterback Drake Blochlinger and returned it for a 50-yard pick-six giving the Bluejays a two score lead, 14-0, heading into half-time.
The Concordia Panthers received the half-time kick, but was forced to punt on the following drive. The third quarter was looking like another defensive battle, but after getting pinned to their own 9 yard line, the Panthers put together a 10 play, 91 yard drive that ended on a 4 yard rushing touchdown for Sophomore running back Tre Hamiel with 3:42 left in the 3rd quarter, making the score 14-7. Wildeman spoke on the offensive success.
Despite the momentum gaining score for Concordia, the Bluejays answered quickly on the ensuing drive, as Jones passed the ball to Melvin on an 80 yard touchdown pass with 2:44 left on the clock in the 3rd Quarter, extending the lead back to 14.
After yet another slow offensive start to the 4th quarter for both teams, the Panthers were putting together a drive that got them down to the opposing 3 yard line. However, going along with the theme of the game, Norton created 3 tackles for loss on 3 straight plays. On 4th and Goal on the Bluejay 6 yard line, Blochlinger threw an incomplete pass to turn the ball right back over to the Bluejays.
Norton then drove down the field, capping off the 9 play, 94 yard drive with a 37 yard touchdown pass from Jones to Derek Clydesdale. The Bluejays missed the extra point, bringing the score to 27-7 with 4:43 left in the 4th quarter.
The Panthers put together a drive, trying to save the game and get right back in it. However, after getting into Bluejay territory, Blochlinger threw his 2nd interception of the night to Derek Clydesdale. Norton then knelt the ball and ran the clock out, making the final score 27-7 Norton. Wildeman shared how tough his team has been despite the adversity faced this season.
The H&R Block of the Game belonged to the Seniors on the offensive line, Tracer Murdock, Kyle McFadden, and Dane Cleveland, who led the way for the Panther run game. The Altius Awards Player of the Game belonged to Sophomore Tre Hamiel, who finished the game with 84 rushing yards, a season high, on 12 carries and his first touchdown of the year.
Concordia ends the regular season with a 1-7 record and will most likely travel to Andale for the first round of the KSHSAA Class 3A Playoffs on Friday, November 1st. Be sure to catch the game on KNCK 1390 and 98.3 with the Panther Drive to the Game starting at 5:30 and kickoff at 6.