Pattonsburg Panthers outlast King City 58-42 in a battle of unbeatens

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by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

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The Pattonsburg Panthers moved to 6-0 on the season, outlasting the King City Wildkats 58-42.  Both teams came into the game unbeaten, with the Wildkats ranked #6 in the state and the Panthers receiving votes.

Pattonsburg found the end zone on their first drive, mixing up a long passing game with a running attack.  Quarterback Gage Fortner got on the board with a 4-yard quarterback keeper to put the Panthers up 6-0.  King City answered immediately when their quarterback, Landon Carlson, answered with his own 5-yard touchdown.  King City led 8-6 after a successful conversion.  Fortner connected with Camden Griffith from 32 yards on the next drive to put the Panthers up 14-8 after Wyatt Maize ran it in for the conversion.  It looked like King City would answer again, but Carlson fumbled the ball at the 1-yard line on a long run.  Pattonsburg recovered in the end zone.  They would drive down the field again when Fortner found Griffith for the second time from 5 yards.  Gavin Humphrey scored 2 to make it 22-8 Pattonsburg after the first quarter.

King City wouldn't go away and outscored the Panthers 20-8 in the 2nd quarter.  Carlson found Coltin Potter from 14 yards to start the scoring.  After another Camden Griffith touchdown, this time on the ensuing kickoff, the Panthers led 30-14.  But King City answered with a Graham Medsker 40-yard run and a Tucker Mollus 13-yard reception (from Isaac King).  They cut the lead to 30-28 to close the half.  The big story in the 2nd quarter was when Carlson was ejected from the game on defense.

The third quarter saw the defenses come alive.  After both teams had drives stall, King City fumbled the ball deep in their own territory.  Fortner took advantage with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Drake Sperry.  The quarter would end with Pattonsburg leading 36-28.

The offenses picked it back up in the fourth quarter when Fortner found Griffith in the flat, and he ran it 72 yards for his fourth touchdown.  Pattonsburg was up 44-28 twenty seconds into the quarter.  King City would not go away, but they could not quite catch up.  The teams traded two more scores each.  The Wildkats with a 3-yard Medsker touchdown and a King to Jax Jundy reception.  Pattonsburg answered both times.  Griffith found the end zone for the 5th time when Fortner converted a 4th down at the 18-yard line.  The Panthers closed the scoring when Maize converted a catch and run from 48 yards.  Pattonsburg came away victorious 58-42.

Pattonsburg coach Brandon Burkhead said, "The boys played their hearts out.  I think we continued to make a statement.  It's time to see what the boys can do the rest of the season."  He added, "We played one of the best teams in the GRC tonight.  We came out with the W and can move forward with that win."

Pattonsburg moves to 6-0 on the season.  King City falls to 5-1.  The Panthers will be at St. Joseph Christian next Friday.  King City will try to bounce back at North Andrew.

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