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🏈🏈  STATE CHAMP TOUR  (2ND STOP)
🆚 Northern x Patuxent
PATUXENT PANTHERS 🏆 2A/1A CHAMPS
📍 Lusby, Maryland


GAME RECAP

The evening sunshine was bright. The weather was perfect for some Friday Night Football, Southern Maryland Athletic Conference (SMAC) style. This was the second stop on our STATE CHAMP TOUR, to see the 2A/1A MPSSAA State Champions, the Patuxent High School Panthers.

They have moved currently to Class 1A, but I recall their 2024 State Champ victory like it was yesterday. They faced the Dunbar Poets, who were seeking their 14th state title and 4th straight in a row. However the energy the Panthers came in with was amazing. All that season, they collaborated with us, hinting at their run for the title. It showed in that game as they held the Poets to only 6 points, after Dunbar had pretty much annihilated majority of their opponents. The game was really 4 quarters of HARD HITTING defense. They were able to secure a state win, since their last victory in 2015.

The stage was set for a Calvert County war. Northern was looking to bounce back from their loss last week on our first stop of the tour against North Point. It looked fresh in their minds. The planned on not letting Patuxent get the advantage. What happened?


1ST HALF –  Since the Northern won the coin toss, they elected to receive the kickoff in the first half of play.  You could see they wanted to get this game rolling.  Their first drive down the field didn’t produce any points. Patuxent answered back moving down the field and scored off a 3rd down QB keeper right up in the end zone.  This looked to set the tone for them.  However, it wasn’t long, Northern marched down adding 7 points to the board.  This back and forth went on for both quarters.  Patuxent’s QB was launching passes that their receivers went the distance. Then after each big play, the Patriots would answer. And the first half ended in a tie, 21-21. I heard that this kind of competitiveness is classic SMAC football.



2ND HALF – This round of competition proved to be no different from the first. Patuxent this time failed to put points on the board on their first drive and it was Northern who gained the advantage, making the score 21-28.  Now, Patuxent answered back in like fashion. With time left in the fourth quarter, they took the lead with a field goal, 31-28. Northern game down the field a time later and attempted a field goal but lost control of the football, to where Pathers recovered. Looked like the game was in the hands of the Patuxent Panthers, but with less than a minute left in the 4th, the Patriots marched back down, and with 3 seconds remaining tied with a field goal, sending this state champ tour in to overtime.



OVERTIME – One of the referees informed me of another SMAC game that ended in OT. I was getting the impression this is a norm for them. With their hard work and service, I’m sure they were ready to get things over with. Northern won  the coin toss and the ball was placed on the 10 yard line. Both teams were to be given a chance at scoring. If the Patriots scored a TD, the Panthers would need to answer with the same.  On third down, Patuxent got an interception which now gave them the opportunity to either score o TD or kick for 3. On 4th down, their QB/Kicker (a man with many hats) landed the ball right between the uprights to secure the Patuxent Panthers victory. 



Let me say, BOTH of these teams studied each other well. NORTHERN, you guys didn’t get the outcome you wanted but you guys played some good football.  I think this is only going to motivate you more to do even better. Keep shining and grinding, you guys definitely put in the hard work. Your coaches will steer you in the right direction. PATUXENT PANTHERS, first off thank you for your hospitality. YOU guys have achieved a goal getting over a losing streak. PROUD of the hard work and diligence you showed out on that field. You didn’t give up and trusted in one another to make the right decisions. It paid off. To BOTH, much success to you and know the season continues on next week. Go hard and play hard. You guys are excellent football teams and it was a joy to cover you. See you on the field next time.


Miller Flow
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