TOLEDO – For the first time this season, the Little Giants lost a game they could not convincingly tell themselves they had a chance to win.
Though the Little Giants took an early lead on a field goal, the Whitmer Panthers surged ahead and never looked back, taking advantage of every Ross miscue and asserting its will in the Little Giants on their way to a 41-3 route.
Key to the game
The Little Giants had no answer to their special teams problems. Ross punted the ball five times in the first half. One of those kicks went out of the bounds. The other four saw the Panthers rack up 136 yards in returns, including a 53-yard touchdown and a 35-yard return inside the Ross 10 that set up a touchdown just two plays later.
First half highlights
Ross moved the ball well early on. Hayden Lehmann hit Devyn Jagodzinksi on a short swing pass which saw Jagodzinki take off for a nice run after the catch for a 42-yard gain down to the Whitmer 12-yard line. Soon thereafter, Mikey Contreras hit a 29-yard field goal giving the Little Giants a 3-0 lead midway through the first half.
Ross’ next possession ended in a punt which saw the Panthers’ first long punt return of the night. Whitmer’s Jasean Rader returned the kick 35 yards to Ross’ 6-yard line. Two players later, the Panthers had a 1-yard touchdown and a 7-3 lead.
Late in the first quarter, Lehmann was sacked deep in his own territory and lost the football. Whitmer recovered at the Little Giants’ 18, then scored three plays later on a 3-yard run by Devin Mauder for a 14-3 lead.
Then disaster struck. The Little Giants punted from their own 19, Rader received the kick and took it the house, 53 yards for a 21-3 lead.
The Panthers added to their lead on their next possession when quarterback Riley Keller connected with Patrick Mappe for a beautiful pass and catch and a 29-yard touchdown giving Whitmer a 28-3 lead at halftime.
Second half highlights
Whitmer took its first two possessions of the second half and drove deep into Little Giant territory but settled for field goals both times, of 24 and 20 yards, respectively. The second of Whitmer’s field goals gave the Panthers a 34-3 lead and instituted a running clock.
With the large lead and the running clock, the Panthers kept the ball on the ground and quickened the pace of the second half. The Panthers extended their lead to 41-3 on a 5-yard touchdown run, capping a 76-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter.
Scoring summary
First quarter
FR – Mikey Conteras 29 field goal, 7:10
WHS – Devin Mauder 1 run (kick good), 3:53
Second quarter
WHS – Mauder, 3 run (kick good), 11:34
WHS – Jasean Rader 53 punt return (kick good), 10:05
WHS – Patrick Mappe 29 pass from Riley Keller (kick good), 7:23
Third quarter
WHS – 24 yard field goal, 8:21
WHS – 20 yard field goal, 4:28
Fourth quarter
WHS – No. 14 5 run (kick good), 4:51