Panthers Hold Off East Jackson in Wild Opener

The short-handed Stockbridge football team held off a late second half rally to take down East Jackson 69-53 in a wild opening night win Frdiay, August 27.

The Panthers were without seven varsity players as well as head coach Jeremy Killinger all due to possible close contact with a positive Covid case.

Stockbridge moved up several players from the JV team, including some that were playing in their first ever high school football game.  The players played through extreme heat and the majority of the squad played on both sides of the ball for most of the game.

Killinger called the offense via zoom from his office and had a lot of success as the offense racked up 69 points and 564 yards in offense.

Drew Philipp and Jeremy Pilch had monster nights for the Panthers. Philipp was 7-14 passing for 158 yards and three TD passes. He also rushed for 213 yards and three scores for the Panthers. Pilch rushed for 182 yards and three TD’s and caught five passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns.

Philipp connected with Pilch for a 14-yard TD pass and then sprinted in from 68-yards out for a 16-7 Panthers lead after one quarter.

Jeremy Pilch catches one of his six touchdowns against East Jackson. Photo provided by Pam Mackinder

The Panthers scored five times in the second quarter with Pilch running it in twice and catching a TD pass from Philipp. Zach Miller added a 10-yard TD run and Philipp scored from 47-yards out for a 48-15 halftime lead.

Pilch would run one in from 43-yards out to make it 55-15, but the Panthers would have to hold off a viscious Trojan rally.

East Jackson would score twice and convert a pair of two-point conversions to cut the lead to 55-31 after three.

Philipp would score from 30 yards to extend the lead to 62-31, but two more Trojan scores cut the lead to 62-47.

Pilch would score one more time from 29-yards out to make it 69-47. East Jackson found the endzone and recovered the onside kick to make thing interesting, but the Panthers got a strip of the ball to end the Trojan drive and hopes of a big comeback victory.

Philipp and Pilch also led the defense with Pich recording six tackles and Philipp five tackles and two fumble recoveries. Daniel Mahler added five tackles, Brock Rochow and Zach Miller four tackles each. Jermaine Clark and Zach Fletcher had fumble recoveries.

Photos provided by Pam Mackinder