Friday night’s matchup between the Austin Panthers and Irvin Rockets at Austin’s R.E. McKee Stadium would determine very important seeding for playoffs for District 1-4A Division 1.
The Panthers were seen as the heavy favorites, but the Rockets wanted to play spoiler for Senior Night at Austin High School.
The Panthers were able to jump out to a 14-0 lead in the middle of the 2nd Quarter with key Senior contributors – Jayden Wilson and Marc Saenz. Both Saenz and Wilson have been vital in getting the Panthers going during this season.
The Rockets did not want to let up, as they had a 5-yard Touchdown connection from Jonathan Chairez to Angel Rodriguez with less than a minute remaining before halftime. That resulted in the Panthers to go into halftime with a shockingly slim lead, 14-7.
Photos by Jacob Rodriguez, Salvador Duarte IV 
Photos by Jacob Rodriguez, Salvador Duarte IV 
Photos by Jacob Rodriguez, Salvador Duarte IV 
Photos by Jacob Rodriguez, Salvador Duarte IV 
Photos by Jacob Rodriguez, Salvador Duarte IV 
Photos by Jacob Rodriguez, Salvador Duarte IV 
Photos by Jacob Rodriguez, Salvador Duarte IV
Saenz turned on the jets for Austin – 3 minutes into the 3rd Quarter – with a 35-yard blast into the endzone to give Austin the 21-7 lead. The game’s final score came when Jayden Wilson capped off his Senior Night with a 22-yard powerful Touchdown run with 2 minutes into the final quarter. The Panthers were victorious, 28-7.
Next week, the Irvin Rockets (2-8, 1-3), will face off against the District 2-4A Division 1 champions, the Brownwood Lions.
The Austin Panthers (5-5, 3-1), will take on the 3rd place team in District 2-4A Division 1, the Andrews Mustangs next week.
Story by Paul David Oliver