MAXWELL, CA (MPG) – There was plenty for the large Homecoming crowd to cheer about last Friday night as the Maxwell Panthers overcame a sluggish start to rout the visiting Los Molinos Bulldogs 63-28 and elevate themselves to third place in the Mid-Valley League standings.
It was a game featuring two of the MVL’s top offenses with the Bulldogs coming in averaging 510 yards and 39 points per game, while the Panthers were steadily generating nearly 400 yards and 40 points each time out.
Although at the onset, it looked as though Los Molinos was going to run Maxwell off the field behind the Northern Section’s leading rusher Harrison Hamre, the Panthers came alive on both sides of the ball beginning in the final minutes of the first quarter when they unleashed an offensive eruption, scoring four times in the span of nine minutes.
Finding itself down 14 points after Los Molinos scored on its first two possessions of the game, the Panthers drew within seven when quarterback Noel Velazquez hit Tanner Vierra in stride as the receiver came across the middle and then out ran the defense for a 30-yard touchdown.
Yet at this point the Bulldogs responded with their third score of the first quarter when Hamre slipped a pair of tackles and raced down the sideline for his second seventy-plus yard run of the night.
However, that would be it for the Bulldogs until late in the fourth quarter as the Maxwell defense forced four turnovers in the second period and ultimately capitalized each time.
At this juncture the Panthers also got the offense going featuring Erik New, who scored the first of his five touchdowns after finding a seam and taking it 35 yards to the house.
Maxwell was right back at it less than a minute later after Rosendo Salazar picked off a pass giving the ball back to the offense at midfield.
After having a touchdown called back due to penalty, Velazquez took one in as he weaved his way 15 yards into the end zone, giving the Panthers their first lead at 22-21.
Twelve seconds later, New recovered a Los Molinos fumble again near midfield, then proceeded to cap the four-play drive with a five-yard run.
Things got worse for the Bulldogs though as they let the ball slip through their hands for a second time, turning it back to Maxwell at its own 22 yard line.
Two plays later, New was back in the end zone after snaring a short pass from Velazquez and racing 76 yards to make the score 36-21 in the Panthers’ favor.
But the half wasn’t over yet and after holding Los Molinos to a three-and-out, Velazquez threw his third touchdown pass of the night to a wide-open Walter Avery, who was waiting behind the defense in the end zone.
It was a second big game in a row for Velazquez, who completed 11 passes for 230 yards in addition to rushing eight times for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Avery, who is also the team’s kicker, caught four balls for 72 yards and rushed four times for 12 yards as well.
Nonetheless, there was still another half of football to be played and the Panthers, who received the second half kickoff picked up where they left off, shredding the Bulldog defense and adding to their total when Brody Jones ran one in from a yard out increasing the advantage to 49-21.
Although the Panthers were not trying to run up the score, the Bulldog defense seemed powerless to stop the Maxwell offense, which saw New score twice more on runs of 83 and 46 yards respectively before mercifully the running clock was imposed.
Still, it was a career night for New, who is making his debut at running back this season, as he gained 298 yards on 15 carries, caught two passes for another 111 yards, then on defense made 15 tackles and recovered two fumbles.
The converted lineman, who showed both speed and power against Los Molinos, was quick to credit the Panther line for his success.
“I want to thank my offensive line because I couldn’t have done any of this without them,” New said. “Mack Kuska had more pancake blocks then I’ve ever seen him have, Logan Lozano played a heck of a game and Diego Ambriz was incredible.”
In all, Maxwell rolled up 672 yards of total offense including 442 on the ground, something that even somewhat caught Coach Lane Davis off guard.
“We were certainly clicking on all cylinders once we got going,” Davis said. “I am a bit surprised at the score, but our offensive line was great tonight and when that happens, no one can stop Coach (Robert) Wilson’s offense.”
Despite the offensive outpouring, the defense deserves credit as well and while they missed some tackles early in the game that allowed Hamre to break free on long runs, they buckled down and contained the Bulldogs for the majority of the game.
According to Davis, striping the ball had been a point of emphasis in practice and it certainly paid off as the Panthers forced a total of six turnovers on the night.
In addition to New, Vierra made 14 tackles, forced a fumble and recovered another, Connor Pearson finished with 13 tackles, Lazarus had nine including two for losses and caused a fumble, while Kuska registered eight, half of which were for losses.
Maxwell (6-1, 2-1) will look to make it three straight wins over MVL opponents tonight when it travels to Portola to take on the Tigers (1-6).