Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Panthers perfect on way to 3A playoffs
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Saturday, November 03, 2007 | No comments posted.
MYRTLE POINT — In 35 years of coaching high school football, Kevin Swift has never had a team do what his squad did this year.
The top-ranked Panthers shut out host Myrtle Point 59-0 to complete an unbeaten regular season.
“I’ve never had a team go 10-0,” Swift said, taking a moment to enjoy the perfect regular season before looking ahead.
Gold Beach rolls into the Class 3A playoffs and a first-round game against Willamina at Marshfield High School. The Panthers would like to play that contest on Friday night.
The Panthers beat the Bobcats with a dominant defense that repelled Myrtle Point’s only true drive of the game in the red zone during the first quarter and then held the Bobcats to negative yardage and no first downs in the second half.
“To go far in the playoffs, you need a good D, and we needed to prove that,” said Gold Beach senior David Bonotto.
Mission accomplished. Gold Beach forced three turnovers, including an interception by Bonotto and another by Mitch McDonald that went for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Panthers piled up the yards on offense with a balanced attack.
Herbie Smith rushed for 121 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Travis Moore added 93 yards and two more scores and quarterback Jeffrey Knox rushed for 66 yards. Knox had one touchdown on the ground and another through the air — a second-quarter strike to Brandon Harding for 31 yards that grazed off the fingertips of Myrtle Point’s Tyler Love.
Moore’s second score came on the opening possession of the second half, when Gold Beach used its no-huddle offense to quickly march down the field on an eight-play 60-yard drive, sharpening up the hurry offense in preparation for the playoffs.
Smith credited Gold Beach’s line for opening up the holes that allowed the team to gain 344 yards on the ground.
“Our line blocks really well so me and Travis Moore can do good,” he said.
But the Panthers were far from perfect in their eyes, saying they still can be better.
“We came out flat,” said Gold Beach lineman Mitch Longwill. “In the second half, we all grouped up and said we needed to pull together and play better.”
Knox also threw two interceptions — one picked off by Evan Rice in the second quarter that led to Myrtle Point’s best drive. The Bobcats reached the Gold Beach 8-yard line, but the Panthers stuffed Sean Andy for no gain on a fourth-and-one play to preserve their 6-0 lead.
The other interception, by Willy Looney, came in the end zone to stop a Gold Beach drive in the final minute of the first half.
Swift also noted the Panthers had bad snaps on a field goal attempt and an extra point try.
“We can’t be a state contender until we stop making mistakes,” he said. “I’m not happy with dropped touchdown passes. I’m not happy with missed field goals and PATs.”
He was, however, happy with the overall team attitude.
“We came out with a little more enthusiasm,” he said. “I’m very happy with the leadership on this team.
“They’re not satisfied either.”
“We played pretty good, but we could have played a lot better,” Smith said.
The Panthers will try to start that next week.
“Our whole goal for the season is to win the state championship,” Longwill said.
Myrtle Point, meanwhile, lost its final three games, to playoff teams Coquille, Cascade Christian and the Panthers and finished 6-3 overall and 3-3 in league play.
“We had visions of much better than that,” said Myrtle Point coach Brad Henshaw. “But Cascade Christian, Coquille and Gold Beach are all great teams.”
The top-ranked Panthers shut out host Myrtle Point 59-0 to complete an unbeaten regular season.
“I’ve never had a team go 10-0,” Swift said, taking a moment to enjoy the perfect regular season before looking ahead.
Gold Beach rolls into the Class 3A playoffs and a first-round game against Willamina at Marshfield High School. The Panthers would like to play that contest on Friday night.
The Panthers beat the Bobcats with a dominant defense that repelled Myrtle Point’s only true drive of the game in the red zone during the first quarter and then held the Bobcats to negative yardage and no first downs in the second half.
“To go far in the playoffs, you need a good D, and we needed to prove that,” said Gold Beach senior David Bonotto.
Mission accomplished. Gold Beach forced three turnovers, including an interception by Bonotto and another by Mitch McDonald that went for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Panthers piled up the yards on offense with a balanced attack.
Herbie Smith rushed for 121 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Travis Moore added 93 yards and two more scores and quarterback Jeffrey Knox rushed for 66 yards. Knox had one touchdown on the ground and another through the air — a second-quarter strike to Brandon Harding for 31 yards that grazed off the fingertips of Myrtle Point’s Tyler Love.
Moore’s second score came on the opening possession of the second half, when Gold Beach used its no-huddle offense to quickly march down the field on an eight-play 60-yard drive, sharpening up the hurry offense in preparation for the playoffs.
Smith credited Gold Beach’s line for opening up the holes that allowed the team to gain 344 yards on the ground.
“Our line blocks really well so me and Travis Moore can do good,” he said.
But the Panthers were far from perfect in their eyes, saying they still can be better.
“We came out flat,” said Gold Beach lineman Mitch Longwill. “In the second half, we all grouped up and said we needed to pull together and play better.”
Knox also threw two interceptions — one picked off by Evan Rice in the second quarter that led to Myrtle Point’s best drive. The Bobcats reached the Gold Beach 8-yard line, but the Panthers stuffed Sean Andy for no gain on a fourth-and-one play to preserve their 6-0 lead.
The other interception, by Willy Looney, came in the end zone to stop a Gold Beach drive in the final minute of the first half.
Swift also noted the Panthers had bad snaps on a field goal attempt and an extra point try.
“We can’t be a state contender until we stop making mistakes,” he said. “I’m not happy with dropped touchdown passes. I’m not happy with missed field goals and PATs.”
He was, however, happy with the overall team attitude.
“We came out with a little more enthusiasm,” he said. “I’m very happy with the leadership on this team.
“They’re not satisfied either.”
“We played pretty good, but we could have played a lot better,” Smith said.
The Panthers will try to start that next week.
“Our whole goal for the season is to win the state championship,” Longwill said.
Myrtle Point, meanwhile, lost its final three games, to playoff teams Coquille, Cascade Christian and the Panthers and finished 6-3 overall and 3-3 in league play.
“We had visions of much better than that,” said Myrtle Point coach Brad Henshaw. “But Cascade Christian, Coquille and Gold Beach are all great teams.”
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines