MCCURLEY’S LEGS, NOT ARM, SPARK WU WIN OVER RANCHOS

The Panthers win in a non-conventional fashion to gut out a 14-6 victory over Liberty-Madera Ranchos.

By Chris Haynes
VSP Senior Writer:

Washington Union quarterback Adam McCurley is known for using his arm to destroy opposing defenses, but it was his legs that created problems for the Hawks in Easton.

“We definitely didn’t have our ‘A-game’ tonight,” said Panthers’ coach Jeff Freitas. “We really struggled on offense and their defense gave us some trouble all night. We had a lot of penalties and pour execution, which allowed them to stay in the game.”

The Panthers didn’t waste time on their first series; seven plays, three first downs, and a 36-yard touchdown pass to receiver Donald Phelps with 8:49 remaining in the first quarter. Panthers took the lead 7-0.

The Hawks used their hurry-offense repeatedly to catch the Panthers off guard with a constant dose of the running game. Running backs Dylan Ferreira and Josh Garza rushed for 108 and 91 yards respectively. The problem would be converting on third and manageable downs in the red zone. With the Panthers offensive line averaging 6’ 3” in height, pretty much forced the Hawks into being one-dimensional and made it highly unlikely for 5’ 10” quarterback Kyle Melvin to complete a high percentage of passes going only 6-12 for 80-yards.

“We played hard,” says Hawks’ quarterback Kyle Melvin. “We got down in the red zone four times and we couldn’t capitalize on it. This is one the toughest teams in the valley, so we feel pretty good about ourselves.”

The Hawks’ defense would keep them in the game. McCurley, who was California’s player of the week in week 5, was hounded all night by defensive end Ben Cowger. Cowger was double-teamed all evening, but he single-handedly kept McCurley from getting comfortable in the pocket. McCurley was forced to either takeoff or throw some rushed passes that were off the mark. McCurley ended up going 17-34 for 218-yards while converting key first downs using his legs.

“I wasn’t expecting their defensive line to be that good,” says McCurley. “Their defensive end (Cowger) is a legitimate D-1 defensive end.”

“We came out a little slow,” says offensive line coach Max Zuniga. “That Cowger kid put a lot of pressure on our line, which forced us to roll out and run, McCurley did a nice job of running though.”

The game would remain 7-0 Panthers until the Hawks second series of the second half. The Hawks would convert on an eleven-play, 80-yard drive that would produce a 8-yard touchdown slant route to Garza with 3.33 left in the third. The extra point would be no good making the score 7-6 Panthers.
Eager to put some points on the board after the Hawks just drove the length of the field, McCurley looks for receiver Josh Williams, but Garza at the defensive back position picks off his pass on the Hawks’ 20. The Hawks would then go three and out to end the quarter.

The Panthers first series of the fourth would show off the offensive juggernaut that many are accustomed to witnessing. The Panthers would go eight-plays highlighted by the McCurley to Williams tandem. McCurley finds Williams for a 37 and 12-yard reception, and finishes the drive with a Willaims 6-yard touchdown grab to open up the game 14-6. This would be all the scoring the Panthers would need on this night. The Hawks would try to air it out to get back in the game but Melvin would get picked off on two consecutive series, by Williams and Phelps respectively.

“It was a hard fought game,” says Hawks’ coach Mike Nolte. “McCurley has about three of four passes he likes to throw consistently, so we sat on those routes and I think we did a good job covering them for the most part. That team has beaten teams by a lot of points, tonight was only 14-6, so I think we got something to be proud of.”

“I think we fought hard tonight,” says Panthers running back Deshawn Johnson. “Defense kept shutting them down and the offense eventually came through to give us the win.”

Liberty of Madera (4-3, 2-2) will welcome in a struggling Sierra High (4-3, 0-3) ball club in hopes of getting back on the winning track in week 8. This is the Panthers (5-2, 3-0) fifth straight victory going into next week’s matchup on the road against the Redskins of Chowchilla (4-3, 2-1).

WEEK SEVEN SCOREBOARD:

Lemoore 12 Mt Whitney 13 F/OT (Thurs)
Porterville 21 Tulare Union 56 (Thurs)
Sanger 21 Edison 19 (Thurs)
Alpaugh 0 Lighthouse Christian 46
Atwater 42 Pitman 14
Bakersfield Christian 12 Tehachapi 40
Buhach Colony 79 Turlock 56
Bullard 52 Reedley 42
Centennial 14 West 16
Clovis East 7 Central 20
Clovis North 19 Hoover 37
Clovis West 14 Buchanan 38
Coast 6 Mendota 28
Corcoran 63 Riverdale 0
Delano 64 Granite Hills 6
Dinuba 42 Coalinga 21
Exeter 31 Selma 14
Firebaugh 46 Avenal 6
Foothill 14 Bakersfield 40
Fresno Christian 0 Fowler 29
Garces 67 East Bakersfield 41
Golden West 6 Redwood 56
Hanford West 9 El Diamante 56
Highland 10 Frontier 36
Hilmar 20 Central Catholic 48
Kennedy 14 Mission Oak 47
Kings Christian 9 Farmersville 36
Kingsburg 49 Central Valley Christian 7
Laton 6 Orange Cove 56
Liberty-Bakersfield 34 Golden Valley-Bakersfield 0
Liberty-Madera Ranchos 6 Washington Union 14
Lighthouse Academy 0 Clovis Christian 82
Livingston 39 Orestimba 14
Madera 12 Clovis 49
Mariposa 0 Le Grand 14
McLane 14 Fresno 27
Memorial 28 Madera South 0
Merced 55 Golden Valley-Merced 20
Mira Monte 28 Independence 27
Mission Prep 30 McFarland 7
Monache 27 Chavez 46
North 26 South 28
Parlier 9 Caruthers 45
Patterson 35 Gustine 7
Shafter 23 Arvin 19
Sierra 0 Chowchilla 35
Stockdale 41 Ridgeview 7
Strathmore 20 Lindsay 25
Sunnyside 14 Roosevelt 13
Taft 42 Wasco 0
Tulare Western 8 Hanford 35
Turlock Christian 42 Delhi 12
Woodlake 37 Orosi 0
Yosemite 30 Kerman 13

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