Panthers tamed by Tigers in second round

MADRID - A few inches made all the difference on Friday night. 

Throughout the first half of the game on Friday night Pekin’s football team appeared to be in the right spot to make a play and grab the lead, but each time the ball seemed to sail just a matter of inches out of reach. 

Madrid took advantage of the missed opportunities in an eventual 33-0 victory over the Panthers in the second round of the class A football playoffs. 

“We had some chances to make it a game, and honestly, be up with the lead in the first half, we just couldn’t capitalize on them,” said Pekin head football coach Klynt Weber. “Madrid hung around long enough and eventually broke us down, and that eventually led to the second half that they were able to have. Just a tough way to go.”

Madrid took an early advantage in the game, scoring on just the third play from scrimmage when their quarterback, Preston Wicker, broke free and scored off a 52 yard run. 

The early deficit didn’t seem to bother the Panthers too much. After all, the week before they had given up an early score to North Linn before coming back and defeating the Lynx. Things seemed to be on track for the Panthers as they embarked on a 14-play drive that took the Panthers to the doorstep of the potential game-tying touchdown. 

After a run by Riley Smith and a pass to Robert Brown brought the Panthers to the three yard line for a fourth and goal, the Panthers lined up seeming to run the ball. Instead, the Panthers faked the handoff to Nolan Glick and Will Adam ran to his left before floating a pass to the corner of the endzone where Brown had a chance to make a jumping catch. Brown was able to secure the ball, but it was punched out of his hands by the Madrid defender, giving the ball to the Tigers. 

Later in the first quarter the Panthers were ready to dig into their bag of tricks for a potential big play. 

Will Adam handed the ball off to his younger brother, Henry. Instead of taking the ball up the middle, Henry rolled to his left and drifted back from the line of scrimmage. He then set his feet and launched the ball 30 yards down field to Kasey Davis, who was running a go pattern down the sideline. The ball landed in the hands of Davis, but bounced off and hit his shoulder pads before falling incomplete. Eventually the Panthers had to punt the ball on that drive. 

Just before halftime the Panthers had one more opportunity to tie up the game. 

Madrid was pinned deep in their own territory, but that didn’t stop the Tigers from attempting to throw the ball. On first down the Tigers tried to set up a five yard hitch play. 

Sophomore defensive back read the play perfectly and was in position to intercept the ball. He lept and was able to tip the ball forward, but as he landed, the ball skimmed off his fingertips and landed in the dewy grass for an incompletion. If he would have secured the ball, Brock almost certainly would have scored off the interception.

Eventually Madrid scored on that drive to increase their lead 14-0 at halftime. 

“We just missed some opportunities tonight,” Weber said. 

Madrid took control of the game in the second half, scoring three times. Pekin wasn’t able to sustain their drives like they had in the first half having to settle for punts on almost all of their drives. 

“Honestly I thought we did a good job trying to limit their run game,” Weber said. “Madrid just found ways to break through the tackles. We worked tackling up and down all week, it is just tough to tackle running backs that are 190-200 pounds each.”

Friday’s game was the first time since Sept. 2, 2022 that Pekin had been shutout. 

“Last week was a big step forward for the team and the program,” Weber said. “Winning a playoff game and being able to put a trophy in the trophy case is a milestone that hasn’t been done here in awhile, and a step forward for the program. Like I told the juniors and underclassmen they need to carry on the tradition, and remember this feeling, bottle it up and carry it with them when we play again. Ultimately Madrid was just too much for us tonight.”

The Panthers finished the season 8-2 overall, increasing their win total by two wins from a year ago. The Panthers also were able to rise to No. 8 in the class A rankings by the end of the season. They also were able to make it to the second round of the playoffs, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since 2014. 

There were eight seniors listed on the roster for the Panthers this year.