Panthers fall to senior-laden Eagles team

Published 12:42 pm Tuesday, September 25, 2018

The undefeated Joseph Eagles swooped into Prairie City Friday afternoon, taking a 62-2 win over the Panthers in six-man football.

Joseph (4-0), with seven seniors on their team, shut out three other opponents. The Panthers have been the only team to score on the Eagles.

In the first quarter, Joseph was leading by 10 points when Panther Declan Zweygardt picked up a fumble.

Joseph quickly took the ball back when Eagle Kade Kilgore intercepted Prairie City.

Kilgore then connected with TJ Grote for a touchdown.

The Eagles led 17-0 in the first, and kept their momentum in the next two quarters.

Early in the second, the Eagles blocked Prairie City’s punt and recovered the ball for a turnover.

Prairie City quarterback Jayden Winegar, Zweygardt, Jake McHatton and Connor Jones moved the ball on Prairie City’s next drive, but were not able to capitalize on their gains.

Zweygardt punted to the Eagle’s 4-yard line, and Prairie City put the pressure on and forced a safety, scoring 2 points, when Kilgore missed a snap.

Joseph running back Carson Littlepage came out with what looked like a leg injury halfway into the third, and soon after Eagle Trey Wandschneider caught a long touchdown pass.

The Eagles, kicking off, took possession when Joseph’s Hayden Hite landed on the ball.

Prairie City’s Opie McDaniel made a good tackle on the next drive, bringing up third down, but the Eagles again scored off the arm of Kilgore.

The Panthers held the Eagles to a field goal for 4 points in the final quarter.

With just 7 seconds left, a personal foul was called on Wandschneider.

“The last hit of the game that ejected the player from Joseph really hurt Jayden,” Prairie City head coach Nate Barber said. “We are not sure how bad his injury is and will have to wait for an MRI.”

Barber said, meanwhile, John Titus will step in as quarterback.

“Jake and Declan always put together good games,” Barber said. “We just need the rest of the team to step up and play the way that they are capable of playing.”

Prairie City will host the Echo Cougars (2-1) at 7 p.m. Friday for the Panthers’ homecoming game.

Barber said he expects Echo, which was in the state playoffs last year, will be tough.