Magnolia and Hamburg didn't play an entire football game Thursday night, but the results were good enough to please Panthers' head coach John Panter.
"We had a lot of good work and most importantly, we came out with no injuries," said Panter.
In three quarters of action, with varsity teams playing only in the first half, Magnolia fell 12-6 to the Lions at Panther Stadium.
"I told our kids that was the same team that beat us pretty badly last year. We went toe-to-toe with them and did some positive things," said the coach.
Both offenses sputtered at the start, but the Lions managed to cross the goal line with 3:44 to play in the opening quarter on a 17-yard touchdown pass play.
The Panthers responded late in the second quarter when quarterback Kyron Sanders threw an l1-yard TD strike to senior Devaunte Robinson.
"I was pleased with the way the guys responded after their score. We took it down and scored. There was nothing fancy about the drive," said Panter.
The coach called it old-fashion, hard-nose football.
"Our kids responded to the challenge," said Panter, giving credit to offensive line.
According to Panter, the Panthers can't afford to worry or get down when someone else scores.
"We simply have to regroup and respond," he said.
After each series (offense or defense), Panter said players and coaches are always on the bench looking for ways to do better the next time they're on the field.
Magnolia and Hamburg had their junior varsity squads on the field during the third quarter. Hamburg scored on a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Neither team managed to hit their PATs, making the final margin 12-6.
"It was good to go up against someone other than ourselves. It gets old when you keep hitting on yourself," said Panter.
The coach said the team's focus is now on the season-opener at Crossett a week from tonight.
