Panthers Hold Off Biggs, Return to Title Game

MAXWELL, CA (MPG) – Attributed to legendary Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, the adage “Defense wins championships” has become a popular sports cliché.

However, last Friday night in the Northern Section CIF Division V semifinal contest, it to be proved true as the Maxwell defense made two goal-line stands and generally contained the visiting Wolverines’ offense, allowing the Panthers to advance to the championship round for the second straight year following their 17-8 win.

“I can’t love them enough,” said Maxwell head coach Lane Davis of his defense. “That was something. It took a great deal of intestinal fortitude or something, but aside from a few penalties, they were fantastic.”

Such inspired play was evident early on, when their first possession ended in a blocked punt that gave the ball back to No. 3 seeded Biggs inside the red zone at the seven yard line, the Panther defense stopped the Wolverine receiver at the one to force the turnover on downs.

Yet, the No. 2 Panthers did surrender a touchdown several minutes later as their own drive stalled and the Wolverines took advantage by scoring on a 38-yard run, which as it turned out were their only points in the game.

Now in the second quarter and finding themselves down 8-0, Maxwell was able to answer, embarking on a 60-yard drive that saw them have a touchdown called back due to holding, before three 15-yard penalties assessed to Biggs set the Panthers up first and goal and quarterback Levi Velasquez was able to sneak into the end zone.

From there, Velasquez connected with Tanner Vierra to make good on the two-point try and tie the score.

Then, after stopping the Wolverines’ seven-play drive on the ensuing possession, Maxwell took the lead for good thanks to a 23-yard field goal by Celestino Corona with a little over two minutes remaining in the half.

Maxwell had an opportunity to add on after recovering the subsequent kickoff, but despite turning the ball back over on downs, Biggs was unable to capitalize as the two teams headed into intermission.

Receiving the second half kickoff, Maxwell ultimately put the game out of reach on their first drive of the third quarter as they marched 75 yards and scored on a third and goal, when a Velasquez pass was tipped in into the arms of Luke Pearson in the back corner of the end zone.

Pearson figured prominently on the Wolverines next possession as well, when after consecutive Panther penalties gave Biggs the ball just outside the red zone at the 26, he picked off a pass at the goal line to extinguish the threat.

With the Maxwell offense continuing to sputter, the Panther defense made its second goal-line stand with just under four minutes left on the clock, basically spelling the end of Biggs’ chances to pull out a win.

Colt Mongomery spearheaded the defensive effort with 12 total tackles, Logan Lazarus and Landon Barrett ended the night with nine apiece, while Erik New finished with seven.

New also had a big night on the other side of the ball carrying 23 times for 143 yards with some punishing runs.

Velasquez completed seven passes for 86 yards, three of which went to Pearson for a total of 35 yards and a touchdown.

Maxwell (9-3) last seasons’ section runner-up, traveled to Redding on Nov. 26 to face unbeaten and No.1 seeded Redding Christian, a team it lost to 22-30 back on Sept. 12.

Still, Davis likes his squad’s chances as they look to bring home a section title for the first time in more than a decade.

“We believe that we can move the ball against them,” Davis said. “What we have to do to win though, is stop them. Every man needs to do his job and we have to play great defense like we did tonight. They are very skilled offensively, but they are still young, so they can make mistakes.”

Set to kickoff at 7:00, the game was played after the Pioneer Review print deadline.