Panthers Can’t Hold Lead in Loss to Morenci

The Stockbridge football team jumped out to a quick lead, but ran out of gas as the Panthers fell to Morenci 60-41 Thursday night to fall to 1-1 overall on the season.

For the second straight week the Panthers took control early and had to hold off a late charge, but this time they could not stop the Morenci rushing attack and fell to the Bulldogs.

Drew Philipp ran it in from 15-yards out and a Jeremy Pilch gave Stockbridge an early 8-0 lead.

The Bulldogs answered to to cut the lead to 8-6, but Pilch returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a score and a 14-6 Panther lead.

Dominic Storie scored from six-yards out and Pilch followed with a 31-yard TD tun to make it 26-6 after one quarter, but it was all Morenci from there.

The Bulldogs scored two rushing TD’s to cut the lead to 26-22 before Pilch sprinted in from 50 yards out to make it 33-22.

Morenci would score on a six-yard run just before the half to cut the Panthers lead to 33-28 at the break.

Two third quarter touchdwons by the Bulldogs put them up 44-33 after three and anoth score made it 52-33 early in the fourth.

Nate Salyer would find the endzone from two yards out to cut the lead to 52-41, but Morenci’s Carsyn Varga sprinted in from 62 yards out for his sixth touchdown of the night to seal the win for the Bulldogs.

Morenci finished with 501 yards rushing including 300 by Varga.

Pilch had another big night with 245 yards rushing on 13 carries and the 80-yard kickoff return for a score. He also cauhgt two passes for 47 yards and had seven tackles and an interception on defense.

Philipp rushed for 33 yards and a score and was 1-2 passing for 37 yards.

Jalen Rogozinksi was 3-10 passing for 52 yards. Zach Miller caught two passes for 42 yards and had one run for 10 yards.

Dom Hamlett led the defense with 11 tackles, while Miller added eight, Storie and Donavin Pignanello each added six.