Lady Panthers Defeat Elk Grove Thundering Herd in 6 Overtimes
October 2, 2024
Elk Grove traveled to Florin High School to ‘Run it Back’ at Panther Park. The Thundering Herd were shut out by the Panthers the previous week and were looking to prove the previous game was a fluke. Elk Grove earned its respect. In a game for the history books, the game went into 6 to 7 over time periods, depending on who you talk to.
Coach Harris said, “I watched the film. It was 6 OT’s. I’ve never been a part of a game like that.”
Regardless, the Lady Panthers of the Gridiron won 6-0 in dramatic fashion.
“The ladies were relentless. We refused to leave the field without a win”, Coach Marquez told Elite Blue Chip.
Lady Panthers take the field
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Both teams struggled moving the ball, but also had chances. Florin had ladies wide open multiple times, but were unable to connect.
Coach Harris said, “If we hit on a couple of those throws early in the game, it's a wrap, but when you leave a team hanging around, they begin to gain confidence.”
That is what happened. Elk Grove at the end of the game drove down to the Florin 2 yard line. With time running out Kat tipped a ball that was thrown into the end zone. Then Elk Grove receiver Kyleann Baird had a chance to grab the ball. Paris Jones came off her girl and knocked it down at the last minute.
Woooooweeeee. That was close. Elk Grove’s Faith Menefee had 4 interceptions for the Herd as the Panthers stubbornly pushed the ball down field.
New Day. New Game. Panthers gettin' ready.
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“We gave them the ball way too many times. We were supposed to check down there. Our defense played “lights out”, Harris said.
Two-way starter Erin Foster had 4 interceptions as well. The senior has been the catalyst for the Panthers on both sides of the ball. Both teams fought to the bitter end.
Finally in the 6th overtime, Florin’s Jayda Lewis hit Aneesa Perkins on a corner route. Perkins made the grab and the celebration was real!
“I was exhausted, but so happy I did a cartwheel”, Erin Foster said.
Defense locked in
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Paris Jones and Katelyn Chan both had game saving flag pulls one after the other. Jones and Chan led the team with 10 tackles a piece. Janiya Brister and Kat finished with 8 pulls. Aneesa Perkins, Erin Foster, Kimia Rhinehart and Hazel Her were all over the Herd, “All night long!”
“Kimia Rhinehart was a difference maker tonight. She was relentless, putting pressure on their QB all night long. Kimia had at least 3 sacks that were not called. Coach Marquez told Elite Blue Chip.
At the end of the night the team came together, shut out the outside noise and were determined to fight for their lives.
Six Overtimes. Team is Tired. Great Win!
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The Lady Panthers will have to continue to fight for their Greater Sacramento League lives if they have any chance of making the playoffs the following day against Valley. The Vikings will come into Panther Park with confidence after defeating the Panthers 18-0 in the last contest.
See you there. Panther PRIDE. I’m ALL in!
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