Panthers Shut out West Campus
September 12, 2024

The Lady Panthers of the Gridiron traveled to Fruitridge to play the West Campus Warriors. 

The Panthers finally showed up on the road winning in convincing style 24-0. 

Florin had a better mindset. It helped slightly that West Campus had not won a game yet, but this time the Panthers did not play down to the level of an inferior team. The Panthers did what they were supposed to do, giving the warriors an old fashioned butt whoopin. 

The Panthers scored on the first drive like a ‘hot knife through butter’. DeAn’s Best Friend, Erin Foster ripped down the home sideline for what should have been a 50 yard touchdown. In a prelude to the rest of the afternoon, the side judge missed the call and determined Foster to have had her flag pulled at the 2 yard line. Not sweating the bad call. Florin immediately went to the shovel pass in the no run zone to Janiya Brister for the two yard score. 

Florin was up 6-0

It was tough sledding through the Panther Defense. The Panthers quickly got the Warriors off the field with a three and out. 

On the next possession, Foster got the hand off from QB1 Jayda Lewis and faked a hand off to Zavanna Payne. The threat of Payne coming around the corner froze the West Campus defense just enough to allow Foster to put on her patented spin move, sink and accelerate to the end zone for a twenty yard run. 

The Panthers were up quickly 12-0

The Warriors were aided down field by a couple of penalties by the over officious nature of the side judge on the Florin sideline. 

Florin Coach Mike Harris was flagged for defending his team and not only penalized, but handed an additional penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. 

“I was upset because the side judge threw his flag at my assistant coach (Noelle Marquez). There is a sand bag in those things (yellow handkerchief) and he literally threw it at her”, Coach Harris told  Elite Blue Chip. “Then blamed her for being too close to the sideline.”

Harris joked, “you can’t be terrible and sensitive”, referring to the side judge. 

Aneesa Perkins scored two TDs on Xriss Xross.

In the second half, the Panthers went ALL GAS NO BRAKES! 

Florin would score two more times on the same play derived from the old Delaware Wing T. Foster grabbed the ball from Lewis causing the entire Warrior defense to flow to the elusive Panther running back. Then Foster, like a slight of hand magician, handed off to Aneesa Perkins on the Criss Cross double hand off and Perkins was gone like the wind.  Perkins sliced through the heart of the West Campus defense for a 30 yard burst. 

“Aneesa is a perfect example of the empowerment of girls flag football”, Coach Marquez said. “Neesy is realizing the relationship between a positive mindset, preparation and success. She was amazing out there.”

Perkins scored again on the same play the next series again, racing through the West Campus defense with Warriors in her wake, this time for a 25 yard touchdown. 

Coach Harris said, “Aneesa has some wheels. She is playing more freely and with confidence.”

Panthers all over West Campus Runningback. Flags were pulled.

The defense pitched a shutout as all Lady Panthers contributed to the win and got on the field. 

“Our depth is one of our strengths”, captain Jayda Lewis said. “Our defense gives us a good look every day in practice. I have faith in every girl on offense. We are starting to become a real team.”

The Lady Panthers are starting to figure it out. 

Come to Panther Park for another GSL contest and stepping stone to a League Championship. The Panthers hope to jump to 2-1 in league. 

Where's Blanca? Out there pulling flags. Thats where.

Next week Florin has another three games on the slate starting with Burbank in the Jungle on Tuesday, @ Kennedy on Wednesday and back at Panther Park against Johnson for Homecoming Thursday September 19th. 

See you then.