Lady Panthers host Cosumnes Oaks Wolfpack in inaugural opener
August 27, 2024
On a balmy night in South Sac, the first night football game was held at Panther Park located on the beautiful confines of Florin High School. On this historic night, the Lady Panthers hosted the Cosumnes Oaks Wolfpack in the inaugural opener at 7PM and it was lit!
In the opener for both teams, Panther Park was packed on the east side of the turf with both teams posting up on the south side of the gridiron. There were close to 750 fans in attendance, but it seemed like a million. Not trying to be weird, obsessing with crowd sizes, but it was the largest crowd we have ever had at Florin High.
It was an electric night in every way.
Lady Panthers taking the field |
Silver tongue Mr. Somers was an amazing host on the Mic. Mr. Cronin’s AMP Academy and Manager Ashna Devi was bumping the tunes. @eyephoto.com took a thousand pictures I’m still waiting for. 🙂 Ms. McGoldrick threw a dime in the inaugural FIRST PASS to sophomore sensation Janiya Brister. The National Anthem was beautiful except for the missing flag 🙂 Masterpiece Dance Company, led by Ms. Kenya Hilliard, ‘cut a rug’ on the Florin turf during Halftime. The night was PERFECT.
Most importantly the Lady Panthers got the W in the first ever night football game held at Florin HS by the score of 18-8.
The Panthers hosted Coach George Smith, the Wolfpack current head coach and former Florin boys football coach and athletic director. Coach Mike Harris, Florin’s head coach said, “George is one of the best human beings I know. Georgie is a great coach, they will be ready to ‘run it back’ next Tuesday.”
The Panthers on paper were not supposed to be in this game. Cosumnes Oaks is a DI Delta League foe with over 2,000 enrollment.
Coach Harris noted, “We are playing all the EGUSD DI schools knowing that iron sharpens iron.”
The Panthers, trying to shake out the jitters, grabbed the ball and quickly went three and out.
Captains meet mid field before the game. |
On CO’s first drive, the Wolfpack drove all the way into Florin territory but was intercepted by senior safety Erin Foster.
Defensive Coordinator Noelle Marquez told Elite Blue Chip, “We play a bend but don't break defense- tightening up in the red zone.”
Marquez couldn’t have been more right.
Cosumnes Oaks knocked on the door all night, but were stifled inside the red zone on most occasions.
On the next possession, the Panthers started to find their way.
Quarterback Jayda Lewis was perfect on the drive, culminating in a 45 yard pass to the aforementioned Janiya Brister.The Wolfpack corner bit on a run fake and Brister was wide open down the seam. Brister ran away from the rest of the CO Defense and the Panthers were on the scoreboard.
After a CO three and out, Zavanna Payne hit Aneesa Perkins on a perfectly designed ‘flea flicker’ reverse pass for a 24 yard gain. The next play, Lewis hit Jazzy Landers in the flat on a great catch down the sidelines. Then Harris went for the jugular. Lewis hit Perkins again on a perfectly thrown pass down the sidelines and the Panthers were up by two scores.
“We missed that throw three times during pregame”, Coach Harris chuckled. “Then Jayda threw a strike when it counted. The post-wheel combination is deadly. We noticed their cornerbacks were vulnerable to play action. I couldn’t have thrown it any better.”
The place erupted. Harris added, “It was great to have a real football atmosphere unprecedented at Florin HS. The crowd was amazing. We have to keep the momentum going.”
Team celebrating a Huge Inaugural Win |
Since the inception of the school in 1989, the Panthers have always played their home games at an alternative site, never really having a HOUSE to PROTECT. Florin has tried to call Cosumnes River College, Sheldon and Monterey Trail High schools as home, but never at Florin until tonight.
Florin played a perfect first period scoring with seconds left in the half.
Down 12-0, Cosumnes Oaks tried to push the ball downfield. Coach Smith dialed up the Sprint Right Flood Pass andJaniya Brister was there again, plucking the ball out of the night the same way she did from Ms. McGoldrick during the pregame ceremonies, but this time bolted down the sidelines with 7 seconds left on the clock. The Panthers electing to not call a timeout went for the knockout punch.
Payne ran down the sidelines and by the Wolfpack cornerback, Lewis dropped another dime and the Panthers were up 18-0 at the Half.
Harris said, “With time running out, we kicked it ‘old skool’ and kept it simple. Go deep and I’ll hit you at the station wagon.”
The Halftime entertainment was masterful; the sunset drifting into the night sky at Panther Park was mystical.
Cosumnes Oaks had no quit in them. The Wolfpack punched back.
CO scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half. On a well designed play by Coach Smith. The Wolfpack’s Swiss Army Knife and speedster, Abby Green grabbed the handoff on the Fly Sweep and pulled up and threw a perfect spiral to CO receiver Jazlene Ramos and the Wolfpack were on the board.
Up 18-8 The Panthers played great defense the rest of the night holding off the Wolfpack. CO got inside the 10 yard line again, but again CO’s hopes were crushed by yet another Erin Foster interception.
Linebacker Kat Doonan was spectacular on defense. Cornerback Katelyn Chan played tremendously on the outside.Ayahna Phillips and DeAn Preston were solid at linebacker. Aneesa Perkins also had an interception jumping a pass in the middle.
“Aneesa Perkins has come such a long way since June 3”, Harris said. “She is why we do it. Empowering young women through the great lessons football has to offer. She was timid, lacked confidence, but through practice and perseverance Aneesa has developed into one of the best receivers on the team.”
When the final horn emerged from the intermittent malfunctioning scoreboard, the Panthers were victorious. Not trying to sound weird again, but tonight’s event was most definitely the largest crowd ever at Florin HS.
It was a spectacular night!
The Panthers will take on the highly ranked Pleasant Grove Eagles on Thursday evening. The venue has changed from Florin to Pleasant Grove due to conflicts with Back to School Night. The Eagles are the best team the Panthers will see this year.
Panther PRIDE. We’re all in!
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