Panther Football Serving Up the Hits on Their Way to a 4-0 Start to the Season

September 26, 2022

After being on the road for the past two weeks, head coach Chris Higgins and his Gold Beach Panther football team were at home Friday evening, hosting the #11 ranked Bandon/Pacific Tigers, who rolled into Gold Beach full of confidence coming off a convincing win against Glide the week before.

Jake Westerman, #7, #3 Zane Gibson, Landyn Miller, #12, and #78 Korben Storns on their to the endzone.

But the 3-0 Panthers ran out onto the field with a little confidence of their own, sporting a 3 game win streak, and 126 points of offense in those 3 games.

#3, Zane Gibson, breaking tackles for extra yards.

The Panthers wasted no time after the kick-off establishing their dominance at the line of scrimmage, pushing the Tigers back onto their heals and then running through or around them to start the scoring on a 36 yard sweep to the right by junior running back Nelson Willstead, #11, giving the Panthers a 6-0 lead with 7:43 left in the first period. Tanner Wright, #5, would also score for Gold Beach on a 6 yard run to the corner of the endzone, putting the Panthers up 14-0 after the first period of play.

Nelson Willstead, #11, on his way to one of his two touchdowns and 112 yards rushing on the night.

Braidon Flynn, #10, diving for the goal line.

Bandon turned up their defensive pressure in the second period, and slowed the Panther offense, forcing punts and holding the Panther offense to just one score in the half. But the Tigers would find the endzone eventually in the 2nd period, picking up a Panther fumble and taking it 48 yards to the endzone, closing the gap to 14-7 before the half-time break.

The Panther defense held Bandon to just 226 yards of total offense and only 14 points.

With a 22-7 lead, the third period was all Panthers, both offensively and defensively, as the Panthers did not allow a Tigers score in the period, while racking up another 112 points of offense. Junior quarterback Jake Westerman, #7, scored twice in the peroid for the Panthers, and junior running back Nelson Willstead, #11, giving Gold Beach a comfortable 44-7 lead going into the 4th period.

Landyn Miller, #12, back for one of the very few pass attempts in the game.

Sitting on a 44-7 lead, the Panther defense failed to contain a Tiger running back, who would scamper 41 yards and convert the final score 44-13, and another decisive Panther football win.

Jake Westerman, #7, turning the corner on his way to 186 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns.

Talking with Panther head coach Chris Higgins after the game he told the Compass “I couldn’t be more proud of our kids tonight… Tonight we made a statement, the Panthers are here to compete,” he said. “This group is going to play their hearts out and give their all to every team were gonna face this season, and I am very proud of my Staff for all their hard work this past week to help prepare our team for battle.”

Cameren Higgins, #9, looking for extra yards.

The Panthers will enjoy some more home cooking this week as they host the Reedsport Braves Friday night, September 30th, at 7:00pm at Panther Stadium.