LCMS Panthers Kick Off With A Win

The Lewis County Middle School Panthers opened up their 2023 campaign on Tuesday, August 8th, at home as they hosted the Spring Hill Generals at A.B. Sisco Athletic Field.

After each team exchanged possessions in the early part of the opening quarter, Lewis County was able to move the ball and find the endzone at the end of the first quarter. Gavin Coker powered in from six yards out for a touchdown and a two-point conversion pass from Brody Clayton to Eli Chapin gave the Panthers an 8-0 lead.

Both teams would play tough defense in a scoreless second period and the Panthers held on to an 8-0 lead as the game reached halftime.

After the break the Panthers would strike on their first possession of the third quarter with Coker finding paydirt again, this time on a two-yard dive. The conversion attempt failed, and Lewis County took a 14-0 lead.

The Generals would counter in less than thirty seconds, connecting on a 58-yard touchdown pass to cut the Panther lead to 14-8, which would hold for the remainder of the third.

Lewis County would mount a drive early in the fourth quarter that was capped-off with a 2-yard run by Brody Clayton and a conversion run from Coke to put the Panthers up 22-8.

Spring Hill would get back on the board on the ensuing kickoff with a 69-yard return to the endzone and another successful conversion to make it 22-16.

The Panther defense would hold and protect the lead as Lewis County took the win 22-16 to open the season.

Gavin Coker led the Panther offense with 191 yards rushing on 17 carries and 2 touchdowns, Garrett Reeves added 37 yards on 8 carries, Tyler Stutts 26 yards on 6 carries, Eli Chapin 3 carries for 6 yards, and Brody Clayton 3 carries for -4 yards. Clayton was 0-3 passing with an interception.

The Panther defense was solid in the game, holding the Generals to 70 yards of total offense. Gavin Coker led the defense with 8 tackles, Jay Mullen 4 tackle and a sack, Knox Rainey 4 tackles, Brody Clayton 3 tackles and a fumble recovery, Garrett Reeves 2 tackles, and Eli Chapin, Anthony Garcia, Tyler Stutts, Henry Sharp, and Brodie Hinson each had a tackle.

The LCMS Panthers hosted the Battle Creek Bears on Tuesday, August 15 Battle Creek wasted no time in cracking the endzone, capitalizing on a Panther turnover and scoring on a 1-yard dive to take a 6-0 lead. On the next Panther possession Lewis County punter Gavin Coker drove the ball inside the Bear twenty-yard line and proceeded to strip the ball away from the Bear returner, carrying the ball across the goal lone to score to tie the game at 6-6. The Bears would counter instantly with an 84-yard kickoff return and a successful two-point conversion to make it 14-6 at the end of the first quarter. Battle Creek would add another score in the second on a 21-yard touchdown pass and another successful conversion to take a 22-6 lead in at halftime. The second half would be all Battle Creek, with three scores over the final twelve minutes to take down the Panthers 40-6.

The Panther offense struggled against the Bear defense, managing only 17 yards of offense in the game. Gavin Coker had 10 yards on 9 carries, Brody Clayton 3 carries for -12 yards, and Garrett Reeves 4 carries for -6 yards. Clayton was 3-11 passing for 25 yards and an interception.

Gavin Coker had 9 tackles, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown for the Panther defense. Knox Rainey and Tyler Stutts each had 9 tackles, Garrett Reeves 8 tackles, Eli Chapin 6 tackles and a sack, Brody Clayton 5 tackles, John Adams 4 tackles, Henry Sharp and Jay Mullen 3 tackles each, Riley Stephens and Jerry Smith 2 tackles, and Anthony Garcia, Knox Harris, and Ashtyn Chapin 1 tackle each.