Panthers season ends at hands of Durant

Pekin put itself in position to potentially make the playoffs as an at-large bid, if they could beat Durant on October 19. They came into the matchup on a positive note after handily beating Belle Plaine on the road a week prior and their only losses on the season coming to teams who were going to make the playoffs.

Durant got on the scoreboard first with a passing touchdown, the only score recorded in the first quarter. Pekin put together a nice drive in response, moving the ball downfield to start the second quarter in the red zone. Conner Reed was the main target downfield, hauling in a 24-yard reception for his longest catch of the night. Tanner Bainbridge finished out the drive with a short two-yard rush to tie things up at 7-7.

Durant countered with another score in the second quarter to take the lead going into halftime, but the Panthers’ hopes were still very much alive. Pekin wound up getting shutout in the second half, while Durant added on another couple scores in the third quarter, followed by another score in the fourth quarter to seal a 35-7 win.

Several seniors led the Panthers, as they had all season, with Caleb Comstock accounting for 138 total yards (99 passing yards and 39 rushing yards), followed by Zach Hammes with 29 rushing yards and Bainbridge with 26 rushing yards. Dayne Eckley also contributed with 34 yards on the ground to end his junior year. Reed finished up his Panther career with four receptions for 95 yards and Hammes caught one ball for four yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, Cael Baker led the team with six tackles, followed by Reed who recorded four tackles, two tackles for a loss of yards and one sack. Comstock and Hammes had two tackles apiece and Logan Kealey had a couple tackles for a loss of yards, Hunter Conger also had a tackle for a loss of yards and Lathe Crochet hauled in his fourth interception on the season.

The Panthers wrapped up their season with a 5-4 record with four quality losses to Mediapolis, Highland, BGM and Durant.