Key mistakes cost Panthers in debut

WATERFORD – The Plymouth Panthers played a strong Waterford team fairly even but couldn’t overcome two costly fumbles as they fell, 21-7, in football action here Friday night.

Waterford’s first two touchdowns, which gave the Wolverines a 13-0 lead in the second quarter, were set up by PHS fumbles on punt returns. The turnovers gave the Wolverines the ball inside the Panther 25-yard line and junior running back Greg Steffens later scored on runs of 24 and 11 yards.

The nonconference game was the season opener for both teams.

PHS scored its lone TD on senior quarterback Mitch Unger’s 55-yard scamper in the second period that sliced Waterford’d lead to 13-7 at halftime.

Waterford hiked its advantage to 21-7 when it drove for a TD after taking the second-half kickoff. Quarterback Zach Fisher connected for a 5-yard scoring pass to Jeff Jenkins.

“We had the momentum after scoring and felt good at halftime. I was disappointed to let them drive for a touchdown in the third quarter,” said Panther head coach Dan Knaus.

“They hit one big third-down pass [in the third-period TD drive].

“Our defense played very well. They had to earn everything. It was two evenly matched teams and it came down to our mistakes on special teams,” Knaus said.

“They’re big and physical, and were focused on stopping the run, and we weren’t effective enough passing.”

The Panthers rushed for 141 yards on 23 attempts but 55 came on Unger’s score.

“It was a great run by Mitch. He made some good moves and then ran over two tacklers at the end. The kids blocked it [TD run] well,” Knaus said.

The coach thought Unger, tight end-defensive end Alex Grahn and middle linebacker Sawyer Bruggink played well. Bruggink led PHS in tackles [total unavailable at press time].

“This game was an eye-opener for our younger guys. We’ll learn from this game and it’s a good measuring stick for us,” Knaus said.

“Waterford is a good team and played them pretty well.”