The Night the Bears Beat 2 future WFT studs

goldenstateservicesj
Sep 16, 2021
4 min read

Pallotti’s 2014 roster included Chase Young and Jaret Paterson

Johari Johnson

The Bears traveled up to Laurel to face their second MIAA school in a row and the Panthers entered the game with a 4-0 record including an impressive win over much publicized Avalon. While Landon scored 21 points, the game turned on their tenacious defense which held the home team’s offense scoreless (their only score was a fumble recovery) and was stopped on TFLs, 4^th-down-and-short’s, fumbles, interception and a missed field goal. The offense was led by Johari Johnson’s (Endicott) run and receptions for TDs (8 rushes for 72 yards and 1 TD; 1 reception 30 yards and 1 TD; plus 1 interception), and his teammates totaled 332 yards of rushing.

Both teams exchanged the ball back and forth much for the 1^st quarter. The Bears’ initial drive seemed to have problems moving the ball; maybe it was a missing starting lineman, maybe it was the opponents’ defensive scheme. The D forced a three-an-out and it. Landon took over and it was clear that the Landon offensive system was corrected. They drove the ball 48 yards in 10 plays only to turn the ball over on an interception. The Panthers showed some O with a 9 play drive, but their QB was introduced on successive plays to Keith Simms ( Oregon)and Kolby Williams (Richmond)who recorded Tackles For Loss. The home team had to punt.

END OF FIRST QUARTER BEARS 0 PANTHERS O

As the scoreboard rolled from Q1 to Q2, Landon had a short drive ending in a fumble with a long Panther return. The Bear D faced a challenge and after 6 plays the home team’s Field Goal missed. Now the Bears drove 11 plays, but another fumble was returned the ball 67 yards for their only score @ 3:45. The PAT missed. Panthers 6 Bears 0.

The Panthers responded with a first down but Landon countered with defensive fury. In successive plays, Keith got a TFL on a run play, Joe Gagnon (W&L) did the same on the next play and then Kolby sacked the Panther QB and caused a fumble which was recovered by Joe (there was quite a pile so others may have helped grab the ball).

The advantage was short lived. After the kick-off return, the Bears set up 56 yards from their goal line. A perfectly executed inside reverse resulted in a fast TD run by Johari. A good snap by Jack Concannon, a good hold by Griffin Brown and a good kick by Cameron Drooz gave the Bears a 7-6 lead @ 3:25.

Bears first and ten from the Pallotti 21, but a holding penalty moved it back. Two plays later Rob Adkins hit Johari (above picture) for a 30 yard TD pass @0:21. The Concannon-Brown-Drooz combination made the PAT. Bears 14 Panthers 6

One play by the Panthers brought an end to the 2^nd quarter.

HALFTIME BEARS 14 PANTHERS 6

A well-executed Landon “pooch” kick-off hit the field about the 30 yard line and the first player to touch (and recover) it was senior co-captain Paul Padalino (Richmond) . Bears first and ten there led to three runs and a Colton Rupp 1 yard TD blast @ 10:44. After two Bear penalties, the PAT team nailed it from 13 yards to make it Bears 21 Panthers 6

Much to their credit, the home team did not quit and put together a 7 play 68 yard drive setting up a 4^th and goal at the Landon 4, but Koko Avedisian recovered a fumble. Landon had three offensive plays with little result and had to punt from the end zone. The defense was going to be challenged again. Six Panthers’ plays were stopped by a TFL by Koko and Paul. The visitors started on their own 20 and had to punt again.

The home team got the ball with expectations of getting a score. That ambition was ended when Bear DB Johari made a VERY athletic interception outfighting a bigger Panther for the ball and “Jay” showed his balletic skills landing his feet inches from the out-of-bounds line. The Bears incurred another penalty on 1^st down (game total 10 for 70 yards) and on the next play ran. End of period.

END OF THIRD QUARTER BEARS 21 PANTHERS 6

First play from scrimmage, Johari sprinted 71 yards for a TD only to see a flag thrown; a similar penalty-nullifying long run occurred last week against Boys Latin. The penalty cause a 26 yard goal for a 1^st down; so the Bears were unable to maintain control of the ball. The home team mounted another drive of 7 plays, but on 4^th the Pallotti QB was forced to an intentional grounding when a host of Bears had him in their collective grasp.

With 7:57 remaining the Bear O line (unfortunately my notes with the players who fought in the trenches were lost) and running game maintained control. Runs by Robbie (game totals 8 runs for 61 yards), Colton (20 for 97), Josh Hunter (12 for 88), Joey Epstein (8 for 61) (team total 50 carries for 332 yards) consumed the remainder of the game. With the ball on the Pallotti 3 yard line, Robbie, who had pulled out some key 1^st downs on swift sweeps, now took a knee twice. Good call, coaches!

FINAL BEARS 21 PANTHERS 6

Landon Football (2014) Roster 48 Bears

The future famous Panthers