After starting the season with two impressive victories, Coach Eric Pichardo and his Austin Panthers have slid into a 3-game losing streak. This is one statistic that they planned to end and put in hindsight after Friday’s game, as they had a key district matchup against a tough Burges Mustang football team.
Both teams knew that a victory was inevitable if they wanted to stay in contention for the district title.
The Mustangs started the scoring first when standout running back, Tavorus Jones, had a 2-yard rushing Touchdown to make it 7-0 with 3:43 left in the opening quarter.
The Panthers answered right back when their powerhouse running back, Jayden Wilson, had a hard-fought 20-yard touchdown run of his own to tie the ball game 7-7 with about 2 minutes into the second quarter.
Wilson found paydirt, once again, this time 4 yards out for the Panthers to make it 14-7, Austin, with a little over 5 minutes before halftime.
The momentum swayed Austin’s way when their defense was dominant against Jones and the usually high-powered Mustang offense. That led the Mustangs to giving the ball right back to the Panthers and they ended the drive with a 3-yard Luis Fernandez Quarterback keeper touchdown to send the Panthers with the 20-7 lead at halftime.
The Panthers seemed to have pulled away and made things out of each for the Mustangs, with 1:28 left in the 3rd Quarter, when Austin’s Oscar Aspeitia intercepted Burges’ Andrew Rutledge and ran it back 97 yards for the pick 6 and to make it 27-7, Panthers.
Burges did their best to come back in the 4th quarter, but Panther Defensive Coordinator, Jorge Tarango, and his defense had an answer for anything the Mustangs tried.
Burges was able to fit in one last score with 7:24 left, when Tavorus Jones had a 4-yard rushing touchdown.
The Panthers came out of Friday night’s battle victorious, 27-14.
Next week, the Mustangs (4-3, 2-1) will look to bounce back as they will host the Andress Eagles. While the Austin Panthers (3-3, 1-1) will look to continue their momentum in district play, as they will travel to play the Irvin Rockets next Friday.
After the game Panthers coach Eric Pichardo talked about the win
Paul David Oliver Reporting