LCHS Panthers remain undefeated

Stats by Barry Churchwell

The Lewis County High School Panther football team took their perfect 7-0 record, 3-0 in Region 5AA, on the road on Friday night, October 16th, travelling for a regional tilt with the Loretto Mustangs (4-3, 2-1).

The Panther defense has been solid all season, and Friday night was no different. After exchanging possessions early in the first quarter, the Panther offense found paydirt when Blake Carroll scored from the 1-yard line to give Lewis County the lead in the first 6-0.

Forty-five seconds into the second period, Ethan Fransen scored the first of his touchdowns on a 1-yard run, and Blake Carroll converted on a 2-point conversion run to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead. Fransen found the endzone again, later in the second quarter, with a 2-yard run. Carroll failed the point after to give the Panthers a 20-0 lead at the half.

The Mustangs could only muster 7 yards of offense in the third quarter, and the Panthers extended their lead. Blake Carroll scored again on a short, 1-yard run and picked up the 2-point conversion run to give Lewis County a 28-0 lead. Carroll had his third touchdown run of the game, second of the quarter, when he broke off a 13-yard touchdown run and added the point to make the score 35-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Mustangs were finally on the board with an 88-yard kickoff return by Caden Porter. After the Patton Simbeck point, the Panthers led 35-7. Andrew Ambaoa found the end-zone for Lewis County with a 5-yard touchdown run late in regulation, and Carroll missed the PAT giving the Panthers a 41-7 lead.

Moments later, Caden Porter broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run for the Mustangs, and with Simbeck's point after, the score was 41-14.

On the next kickoff, Lewis County's Ethan Fransen took the kick 86-yards for a touchdown straight down the Mustang side line, and Carroll's PAT ended the scoring with the Panthers taking the win 48-14.

Austin Hicks led the Panthers in rushing with 96 yards on 6 carries, Blake Carroll had 84 yards on 14 carries and 3 touchdowns, Clydarius Sparkman 10 carries for 54 yards, Ethan McCann 8 for 40 yards, Ethan Fransen 8 for 37 and 2 touchdowns, Lincoln Brewer 3 for 29, Bryson James 1 for 8, Sloan Moseley 2 for 7, Dyer Barnes 3 for 5, Jayce Clayton 1 for 2, and Andrew Ambaoa 4 carries for -5 with a touchdown. Bryson James was 1 for 2 passing for 19 yards, and Dyer Barnes was 1-2 for 10 yards. Jaydon Stewart caught 1 pass for 19 yards, and Austin Hicks had a reception for 10 yards.

Ethan Fransen added an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

The Panther defense held the Mustangs to 168 yards of total offense. Kael Feichtinger had 7 tackles and blocked a punt, Sloan Moseley had 6 tackles and a fumble recovery, Robert Young 5 tackles, Ethan Fransen 4 tackles and 2 interceptions, Blake Carroll 4 tackles, Hunter Smith and Ian Carroll 3 tackles, one for loss for Carroll, Maddox Kellogg, Austin Hicks, and Chaz Sparkman 2 tackles, Ethan McCann 1 tackle and an interception, Clyde Sparkman one tackle for a loss, Lincoln Brewer, Andrew Ambaoa, Kyle Larue, Ikaika Bosque, Lane Barnes, Jayce Clayton, and Cole Farr one tackle each.

The Panthers remained perfect at 8-0, 4-0 in Region 5AA with the win. The Mustangs fell to 4-4, 2-2 in Region 5AA. The Panthers step out of region and out of classification when they host the Camden Lions on Friday, October 23, at 7 p.m. at Bobby W. Sharp Stadium.