Peoria kicked off their season on the road on Friday and hit a couple of potholes. They fell just short of the Deer Valley Skyhawks by a score of 23-20. Despite 74 more yards than the Skyhawks, the Panthers couldn't convert that extra yardage to scores.
Several Panthers players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Javon Bell, who rushed for 165 yards. Dominic Kramer was another key passer, throwing for 160 yards and three touchdowns.
Don't try to pin the team's loss on the defense: they kept the trenches locked down and allowed a mere 2.1 yards per carry. While three picked up at least six total tackles, Devonte Hendrix stood above the rest. He picked up a sack and made six total tackles. Peoria's ground attack was stronger, having averaged 5.4.
Peoria's defense didn't let Gavin Youngker., get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Hendrix, RJ Hyseni, and Josh Rodriguez, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Among those leading the charge was Youngker, who threw for 235 yards and one TD.
Coming up, Peoria will head out on the road to take on Kellis at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Deer Valley, they will be playing at home against Goldwater at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
