By Larry Briscoe
Correspondent
The Quinlan Ford Panthers ended the season Friday with a 29-20 loss to Pittsburg.
Panther scoring came on two touchdown runs by Johnny Solis and one by James West. Melvin Benitez was two for two on PAT kicks.
James West carried seven times to pick up 58 rushing yards and completed five of nine attempts in the air for 61 yards. West’s longest run was for 19 yards, and his longest pass was 18.
Solis carried the ball 10 times to gain 86 yards. His longest run was for 33 yards.
Roman Aguillon had 43 yards rushing on 10 carries. His longest was for 18 yards.
Logan Lane connected on three passes for 32 yards. His longest was for 12 yards.
Trevor Stanford connected on a pass to pick up 29 yards receiving and carried the ball seven times for two yards rushing. His longest pass caught was 28 yards.
Blaine Burch carried five times for 22 total yards.
Justin Parker had 22 yards rushing on seven carries.
Brandon Melton had two carries for 14 yards; and Zach Claire, one carry, 6 yards.
On defense, Taner Renfro made four solo tackles and five assists; Solis, three tackles, two assists; Stanford and Brandon Melton, two tackles and four assists apiece; Melton also caused a fumble; Stanford also had a pass defended; Lane, two tackles, two assists and caused a fumble; Blaine and Calvin Olsen, one tackle, five assists each; Parker, one tackle, one assist; Benitez, one tackle; Roble Acosta, four assists; Gavin Ellis, three assists; Kolby Wall, two assists; and Kevin Landeverde, one assist.
Coach Todd Wallace said, “I thought the guys might have played their best game of the year Friday night. Pittsburg was big and physical and fast, but our guys fought hard throughout the game. We put ourselves in position to have a chance to tie the game and just could not make the play or two when we needed to. Despite not having success on the scoreboard, this group is winners. They played as hard as possible every week and never gave up. They kept coming back each week and I thought they got better as the year progressed.”
Wallace had a message for his players, “To the seniors, I would like to say a special thank you, and I know they will be successful because of things they have learned in football. To the rest of our young team, the future is bright, but it is time to go to work in the off-season.”