Panther Football Bounces Back

By Marcus Gobis: For The Clock

On September 30, 2015

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Panther Football Bounces Back

Marcus Gobis

For The Clock

We got our first look at the 2015 Plymouth State Panthers on the 5th of September as they took on Castleton for the home opener in which they lost 21-10. This past weekend the Panthers were looking for a different outcome as they traveled to Mount Ida who also lost their first game of the season.

Defense was the story of Saturday’s game as neither team was able to reach double digits. Plym outh’s first drive of the day ended abruptly when sophomore WR Chris Kelly (Belmont, Mass.) fumbled after catching a six-yard pass from freshman QB Zack Edwards (Brookfield, Mass.) . Five plays later Mount Ida scored the first points of the contest. After a missed extra-point, the score became 0-6 in favor of Mount Ida. The score remained the same through the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter couldn’t have started off any better for the Panthers as the special teams blocked Mount Ida’s punt and gained possession on the 7-yard line. 1st and goal was a three-yard pickup by junior running back Preston Jones (Fryeburg, Maine). 2nd and goal was a completed pass for another three-yards from Edwards to senior running back Andrew Vollaro (Higganum, CT). The Panthers came up short on 3rd down, just one yard away from six points. Plymouth decided to settle for a field goal attempt by freshman kicker Jeff Madden (Wolfboro, NH), a 20-yard attempt that was successful.

The following drive for Mount Ida began on their own 36-yard line and worked their way down to the PSU 21 by switching it up between rushes and pass attempts. Then on 4th down and five, junior defensive lineman Alton George (Foxboro, Mass.) sacked Mount Ida’s quarterback forcing a fumble that was soon recovered by fellow lineman freshman Cam McGhee (Winchester, Mass.).

It was once again the Panthers’ turn to drive down field, this time starting at their own 24-yard line. On second and ten, freshman running back Matt Ordway (Walpole, Mass.) had a huge gain of 25 yards that was followed up immediately by a 17- yard pass completion to Preston Jones . Now at the Mount Ida 34-yard line, a short gain was established on a short pass to senior wide receiver RJ Kasper (Killingworth, CT). This led to a 24-yard rush by sophomore running back Jake Becker (Portsmouth, NH) that brought PSU into the red zone. Later in the drive, Edwards hooked up with wide out Chris Kelly for a 13- yard touchdown pass. The Panthers attempted to go for two but failed on an incomplete pass attempt. The score remained the same throughout the rest of the game. The Plymouth State Panthers earned their first win on the season as they defeated Mount Ida 9-6. Plymouth’s defense was outstanding in Saturday’s win forcing two three-and-outs as well as two fumbles in the second half as they shutout Mount Ida in the last three quarters of play.

This coming Saturday, September 19th, the Panthers will be going up against Western Connecticut here at home as they seek to win their second consecutive game. The rest of their regular season games will be against MASCAC teams.