After four years in the cellar, Pattonsburg is suddenly a team on the rise again. They stunned Platte Valley on a Hail Mary from Gage Fortner to Wyatt Maize on week one. They were supposed to be gashed all night on the ground by a run-heavy Mound City squad which didn't need to attempt a single pass against Princeton in their first week. Pattonsburg didn't need any last-second heroics this time, but things got interesting in the second half. The Panthers had completely outplayed Mound City and jumped out to a 26-12 lead, only for Mound City to turn things around and score with 7:37 left in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 26-20. In past years, the Panthers had a good chance of folding, struggling to buy a stop in the last two quarters. Mound City thought they had Pattonsburg right where they wanted them.
But then Pattonsburg got help from two unlikely sources -- their special teams and their defense. First, Wyatt Maize took a short kick, found a hole down the left side of the field, and took it to the house, putting Pattonsburg back in front by two scores. Gavin Humphrey caught the extra point pass to make it 34-20 and the defense did all the rest, shutting down a potent running attack and holding Mound City scoreless the rest of the way as they pulled away to a 48-20 win.
Asked what the difference between the two seasons was, coach Brian Burkhead said the team had been working on defense throughout the offseason. "We know we can score on people; we needed to shore up our defense, and the kids all bought in," he said. A new defensive coach, Greg Brown, who had coached 30 years ago, but who offered to step in after Jordan Jenkins went back home to Platte Valley, will now get his mustache shaved, one that he had worn since 15. Pattonsburg has already improved on last year, now going 2-0.
This kind of chemistry is the sort of thing that can turn teams around. Mel Tjeerdsma was already one of the best offensive minds in small college football, but when he brought in Scott Bostwick as his defensive coordinator, the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats went on an extended championship run. When Adam Dorrell took over the program, he had a strong defensive coach in Rich Wright, who built an elite defense to compliment that offense. Closer to home, Worth County already had one of the most high-powered offenses in school history under Mark Fletcher. But they took the next step when Chuck Borey took over the defensive reigns and the Tigers went 8-2 in 1994 and won state in 1995 to jumpstart their dynasty.
After Pattonsburg scored to go up two scores, Mound City tried to go for it on fourth and eight from their own 24, but Drake Sperry came free and had the quarterback in his grasp as he threw it away; it was ruled a sack and Pattonsburg took over on the Mound City 21. Consecutive strikes to Gavin Humphrey for four yards and Camden Griffith for 12 put it on the five. The red zone had been an area where the Panthers frequently faltered the last two years, but with their newfound ability to run the ball, Wyatt Maize took it to the house. Gage Fortner ran in the extra points to make it 42-20 with 5:07 left in the third.
For the last several years, Pattonsburg would do an onsides kick regardless of the situation. But this time, they kicked it deep and Camden Griffith buried Mound City at their own 18. A false start moved them back to the 13. Creyton Roup nearly broke one, but Camden Griffith ran him down from behind after three yards. An option play and a dive set up fourth and one, but a first down run was wiped out by a holding penalty. Once again, Mound City went for it deep in their own territory on fourth and 12 from their own 16, but Wyatt Maize broke up a Hail Mary and the Panthers took over on downs.
There was a heartstopping moment on the next play as one of the Mound City defenders nearly jumped a short pass and took it to the house, and the Panthers gave up the ball on downs at the 16. But a late hit on Mound City buried it on their own 8. Mound City started fighting back, with #34 taking a sweep, reading the defense perfectly, and reversing his field and breaking it for 15 to the 21. A jet sweep to Roup netted six, a quarterback sweep netted six more, a pass to Roup netted 9, and a quarterback keeper and a late hit put the ball on the six. #34 tried to reverse his field again on a sweep, but this time, the Pattonsburg defenders stayed home and he could only net one to the five.
With their backs to the goal line, this was the kind of situation in which Pattonsburg would fold in the past, but Gavin Humphrey blew up a keeper and a false start and a holding penalty did the rest. Alex Young dropped a Mound City back to finally get Pattonsburg the ball back on downs at the 18.
Mound City loaded up to stop the run and drove Maize back to the 14 on two carries. But Pattonsburg caught a break as a ball from Gage Fortner caromed off Drake Sperry and Camden Griffith caught it for a first down at the 28. From there, Wyatt Maize got the ball on a simple dive play and found nothing but daylight and took it to the house for 52 yards with 7:30 left to make it 48-20. Frustration set in for Mound City and their coach was screaming at one of his players following the play.
Pattonsburg kicked it deep again and this time, Remington White had a big hit to pin Mound City on their own 13. A holding penalty pinned them back to their own 4, and they were forced to punt. A short kick gave Pattonsburg the ball on the Mound City 33, and Wyatt Maize ran it for a first down as they kept it on the ground for all but one of their plays. Gavin Humphrey took a counter six yards and then Wyatt Maize burst through a hole for 12 yards down to the four before Pattonsburg knelt out the clock.
The Panthers have a home game with North Andrew next, but they have their sights set on Worth County on October 17th, which is their Senior Night. The season is shaping up to be a three way race between Worth County, Pattonsburg, and King City, but Albany, North Andrew, and St. Joseph Christian all have the talent to play spoilers.
Gage Fortner completed 21 of 30 pass attempts for 191 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick. Mound City limited Pattonsburg in the air, but the Panthers gashed them on the ground to a tune of 8.8 yards per carry. Wyatt Maize had 9 carries for 113 yards, Gage Fortner 6 carries for 18 yards, and Gavin Humphrey 1 carry for 10 yards.
Wyatt Maize had 5 catches for 64 yards. Camden Griffith had 8 catches for 75 yards. Drake Sperry had 2 catches for 4 yards, and Gavin Humphrey had 5 catches for 48 yards.
Mound City ran 80 plays to just 46 for Pattonsburg, but the time of possession didn't seem to matter as Pattonsburg got stronger on defense as the game progressed. Gavin Humphrey had 15 tackles on defense. Wyatt Maize and Camden Griffith had 12, Collin Mason 11, Ryker Fortner 6, Alex Young and Jace Estrada 5, Drake Sperry 4, and Gage Fortner, Beau Gibson, Remington White, and Andrew Craig 2 each.
Collin Mason had 5 tackles for loss. Wyatt Maize, Drake Sperry, Ryker Fortner, Gavin Humphrey, and Jace Estrada each had 1. Collin Mason and Jace Estrada had 1 sack each.
Pattonsburg won the turnover battle, forcing three turnovers while only losing the ball once. Wyatt Maize, Camden Griffith, and Collin Mason all had one fumble recovery. Griffith forced two fumbles.
The Panthers converted three out of their seven scores.
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