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Central Catholic Suffers Heavy Loss to St. Frances Academy (MD) 44-16

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| August 24, 2024

The St. Frances Academy Panthers dominated the Central Catholic Vikings today, winning with a score of 44 to 16. The Panthers held the Vikings to just 16 points, although the Vikings scored more than 16 points in every game but one last season. Turnovers and missed opportunities were the downfall for the Vikings Yesterday.

In the first quarter, the Panthers’ offense came out strong, driving the ball down the field and finishing with a back-corner fade route. James Branch, number five, made an impressive jump-ball catch to put the Panthers up 7-0. The Vikings’ first drive started promising, as quarterback Jy’Aire Walls threw a beautiful deep pass to wideout Brandley Gompers. However, things quickly went wrong when they fumbled at the 4-yard line, missing a key scoring opportunity. The Panthers then took possession but were stopped, and after a series of defensive stops from both teams, the first quarter ended with the Panthers leading 7-0.

 

The second quarter began similarly to the first, with the Panthers scoring again, thanks to running back number 21, Jaelyn Burke, who made it 14-0. The next score wouldn’t come until there were 4:29 left in the second quarter, when kicker Billy Leach nailed a 45-yard field goal, putting the Vikings on the board at 14-3. However, the Panthers quickly responded with a deep pass to wide receiver Jeremiah Koger, extending their lead to 21-3 at the half.

The third quarter was where the Vikings lost their grip on the game. A fumble on the opening kickoff led to a safety for the Panthers, increasing their lead to 23-3. Although the Panthers initially couldn’t capitalize on their good field position after the free kick due to an 80-yard touchback by kicker Billy Leach, they soon bounced back. Antonio Smith powered through with a strong run for another touchdown, pushing the Panthers’ lead to 30-3. Despite being significantly behind, the Vikings responded with a touchdown pass to Xxavier Thomas, but they failed the point-after attempt, making the score 30-9 at the end of the third quarter.

 

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Panthers continued their scoring streak as number 24, Davonta Johnson, extended their lead to 37-9. The Vikings quickly answered with a touchdown of their own, courtesy of a powerful run by number zero, Roman Thomas, bringing the score to 37-16. However, the Panthers sealed the game with a final touchdown from number 11, Jermiah Koger, setting the final score at 44-16.

Central Catholic starts their season with a loss and will need to make significant improvements on the offensive side of the ball. Their performance today was marred by sloppy play, including fumbled snaps, turnovers, and a safety that essentially sealed their fate. They hope to address these issues before their next game against Pine-Richland, who upset them late in the season last year.

For more coverage on this game and future WPIAL/Pitt football matchups, follow me on X @Gingeryinzer09.

Photos by @KAR120C6

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