After splitting their first two games against the LIONS this season, the PANTHERS picked up momentum going into the playoffs with an impressive 20-0 win over their division rivals. The victory cemented the PANTHERS’ status as the number one seed for the upcoming postseason tournament.

All season the PANTHERS have demonstrated why they are the team to beat in 12-15-year-old division. With all due respect to the RAIDERS, the LIONS are a more formidable playoff matchup for the PANTHERS because of their exceptional skill position players. Anthony “Swag” Jagers II, William Generett, and Skylar Kunkel are big time weapons for LIONS’ Quarterback John Lindgren.

In their previous matchup, the BLACK CATS found themselves on the positive side of two controversial calls from the officials. As a result they beat the LIONS 9-0 in Week 4.

This time, however, the PANTHERS won decisively with little to no controversy (outside of a few overzealous parents). Coach Dennis “Shor D” Wolford called an excellent game on both sides of the ball for the winning squad. Christopher Moncrief spearheaded a passing attack that produced three TDs through the air (two for Christopher Dotson, Jr. and one for Trey Champine).

Except for an interception by Generett on a pass thrown by Champine, the LIONS did not make any game-breaking plays on either side of the ball. While Coach Ron Idoko’s team suffered an early blow when their best playmaker Jagers missed a few plays with a head injury, they were able to escape the first half with a manageable 7-0 deficit.

Unfortunately, the LIONS were unable to capitalize off of the mistakes that the PANTHERS were making. Perhaps the biggest missed opportunity came on a play where an overthrown pass by Champine that should have been picked was dropped by Jagers. After the game, Jagers went to work with his dad to work on the fundamentals of securing an interception.