The Panthers pounce on the Falcons
By Drake Horton, Contributing Writer
Lake City –The Darlington Falcons football struggles continued this past Friday night in Lake City as the Panthers came out victorious over the Falcons by a score of 39-0.
“I don’t think we got off of the bus, offensively or defensively we didn’t get off the bus,” Darlington head coach John Jones said. “We made a lot of mistake in the first half and it put us behind. Every time we had a good play offensively it seems like we would make a mistake to hold us back behind the chains which will kill a drive here and there. Defensively we would get them in a short yardage situation and make a mistake.”
It was the second time this year the Falcons had been shutout, with the other coming against Lamar.
Lake City jumped on Darlington quick and early, needing only four plays in its opening drive to score as Chris Burnette hit Molik Brown for a 33-yard touchdown pass, putting the Panthers up 7-0.
Up 7-0 the Panthers wanted more and more is exactly what they got. With less than a minute left in the opening quarter Lake City’s workhorse, TyShawn Baines, had a 56-yard run and capped the drive off with a one-yard touchdown run with 35.2 seconds left on the clock.
The Panthers did not let up in the second quarter. Already up by two touchdowns, Lake City added two more before the intermission with Jalen Barr scoring on a 25-yard reception and Baines running from three yards out, his second score of the game.
With a 26-0 lead at the start of the third quarter, Darlington tried to get something going offensively and for a moment it looked like the Falcons might just have made the right adjustments.
After converting two first downs, one on the ground by quarterback Silas Barr and one through the air by receiver Eric Brown the Falcons were in Lake City territory when running back Joshua Gray coughed up the football, spoiling what looked to be a promising drive.
Following the turnover Lake City put together a quick drive ending with Baines getting his third rushing touchdown of the game, this one coming from 29 yards outs, increasing the Panthers lead to 32-0.
Darlington punted on its next drive and Lake City wasted no time in its next possession, marching right down the field and scoring again, for what ended up being the last score of the game, a four-yard touchdown run.
The only difference between this rushing touchdown and the others was the person who scored. Instead of Baines, who already had three on the night, it was Marquese Butler.
The Falcons are now 0-5 on the year and have one non-conference game left, this Thursday, against South Florence.
County Recap
Both the Lamar Silver Foxes and the Hartsville Red Foxes improved to 5-0 this past Friday with wins while Trinity-Byrnes improved to 2-2 on the year.
Lamar defeated East Clarendon at home this past Friday by the lopsided score of 55-14.
The Red Foxes beat Marlboro County in Bennettsville 28-6.
Trinity-Byrnes was awarded a 2-0 victory over Oakbrook Prep due to a forfeit.