After building a 22-7 halftime lead, the Panthers took advantage of a short punt and a fumble recovery to tack on two quick scores late in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. The defensive front did bend but didn't break as it spent a good portion of the contest chasing DeSoto quarterback
Darius Bailey.
DeSoto struck quick when
Tre Wisner returned the opening kick to the Panther two-yard line. Two plays later, Bailey hit
Johntay Cook II in the back of the end zone from six yards out to put the Eagles up 7-0 just a minute into the contest.
St. Frances Academy answered with a 12-play, 86-yard drive capped by Van Buren's 33-yard connection to Manning with 6:04 left in the opening quarter, giving the Panthers an 8-7 advantage following Williams' conversion run.
Durell Robinson looks to evade DeSoto tacklers Saturday night in Texas.
Photo: Kenneth Murphy
After forcing DeSoto to punt, St. Frances Academy went to work again, traveling 67 yards for a two-score advantage following Robinson's one-yard plunge to build a 16-7 advantage just nine minutes into the contest following.
Following a DeSoto fumble, St. Frances Academy extended its advantage to 15 early in the second quarter. Van Buren was sacked, losing five yards on first down before Robinson barreled 46 yards to the Eagle 23. Van Buren then connected with
Mekhi Workman for 20 yards and a score to open the second quarter and go up 22-7 following the conversion run.
Penalties and turnovers kept DeSoto out of the end zone after the quick score that opened the contest.
The Panthers have already knocked off teams from Illinois and Texas this
season and will get opportunities to take down teams from Connecticut,
Florida and South Carolina as well as Canada. Up next is
Venice (Fla.) on Sept. 15.
DeSoto (1-1) will look to rebound against
South Oak Cliff (Dallas) next Friday.
Dejuan Williams (24) of St. Frances Academy celebrates a score, one of many for the visiting Panthers.
Photo: Kenneth Murphy
