Panthers come up short vs Hobbs JV
By John Earp
Last Friday night in Panther Stadium, the Jal Panthers Varsity Football Team (0-3) had their hands full with the Hobbs Eagles JV Team. The Eagles looked bigger and faster and more athletically capable throughout the game. Hobbs definitely presented a big challenge for the Panthers.
Adrian Rodriguez intercepted a pass on the Jal 9-yard line with just over 5 minutes remaining in the first quarter, stopping the Hobbs Offense and taking the momentum away from them at least for the moment. The Panthers were able to advance for several plays, but ended up having to punt on fourth down with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter. The Hobbs Offense then made a long, slow but steady drive down the field, culminating in a 6-yard touchdown run with 27 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles appeared to have a notable height and size advantage over the Panthers. It seemed difficult to imagine the boys were all junior varsity level athletes, even given the size of Hobbs High School. At the end of the first quarter, the Eagles led the Panthers, 7-0.
On the first play of the second quarter, the Jal quarterback threw a pass that was intercepted by Hobbs near the five-yard line and was then run into the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, and Hobbs led 13-0. Rodriguez caught a short pass and ran it out to the 35-yard line. Unfortunately, that drive would be plagued by needless penalties by the Panthers, ending with a punt that was run back deep into Panther territory. The Eagles once again were in the end zone within just a few plays. With 9:38 remaining in the first half, Hobbs led Jal 19-0. Things were not looking good overall for the Panthers. With 3:50 remaining in the first half, the Hobbs quarterback threw a long pass that was caught near the end zone and run in for 6. Conversion was good for 2. Hobbs led 27-0.
Joel Nieto scrambled and ran the kickoff back to the Hobbs 48-yard line, giving the Panthers excellent field position with three and a half minutes remaining before halftime. An interception by Adrian Rodriguez with 1:51 remaining in the first half gave the Panthers the ball at the Hobbs 45-yard line. A run by Coby Vargas to the 17-yard line gave Jal their best field position of the game. Unfortunately, a Hobbs interception in the end zone resulted in a turnover, thwarting the Panthers once again. At halftime, Hobbs led 27-0.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Andre Rodriguez took an option from the quarterback into the end zone for Jal’s first score of the game with 11:53 remaining, Hobbs led 27-7. Neither team put any further points on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. The final score was 27-7.
The Panthers square up against the Van Horn Eagles (2-0) this Friday at home. Van Horn is ranked #97 in Texas Division 2A-2 according to MaxPreps.com. The Panthers are ranked #5 in New Mexico Division 2A.