BEARS MAUL PANTHERS
* CONTRIBUTED BY NATE DICROSS
YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The stage was set for an epic showdown between the Youngstown East Golden Bears and the Dohn Community Prep Panthers. Fans from both sides packed the stands, eager to witness the clash of these two high school football titans.
The game began with a burst of energy, and it didn’t take long for Youngstown East to assert their dominance. With 7:12 left in the first quarter, Thomas Davis, the star running back for the Golden Bears, bulldozed his way into the end zone with a 10-yard touchdown run. The crowd roared as Youngstown East successfully converted the two-point attempt, taking an early 8-0 lead.
Youngstown East’s offense was firing on all cylinders, and their defense was equally relentless. The Panthers struggled to find their footing, and before they knew it, Thomas Davis struck again. With 3:44 left in the first quarter, Davis powered through the Panthers’ defensive line for a 2-yard touchdown run. This time, the two-point conversion failed, but the Golden Bears extended their lead to 14-0.
Determined not to be left behind, the Dohn Community Prep Panthers came roaring back in the second quarter. Robert Kelly, their speedy running back, broke free on a 73-yard touchdown run, leaving Youngstown East’s defenders in the dust. The Panthers successfully converted the two-point attempt, closing the gap to 14-8 with 10:59 left in the second quarter.
But Youngstown East wasn’t about to let their lead slip away. Thomas Davis, proving to be a force to be reckoned with, scored yet again. This time, he powered his way into the end zone with an 8-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was no good, but the Golden Bears were still ahead, now leading 20-8 with 6:57 left in the second quarter.
As the first half neared its end, Youngstown East decided to air it out. Quarterback Andrew Blackmon launched a perfect pass to Bre’Shean Buie, who sprinted 63 yards to the end zone. Although the two-point conversion was unsuccessful, the Golden Bears now held a commanding 26-8 lead with just over a minute remaining in the second quarter.
The third quarter began with Youngstown East showing no signs of slowing down. Daryan Brownlee connected with Tyris Davis on a 16-yard touchdown pass, further widening the gap. The two-point conversion was once again unsuccessful, but the score now stood at 34-8 with 8:06 left in the third quarter.
Youngstown East continued to pour on the pressure. Thomas Davis scored his fourth touchdown of the night with a 3-yard run, and this time, the two-point conversion was successful, making it 42-8 with 6:25 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Christopher Lacey joined in on the scoring frenzy with a 26-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but Youngstown East had an insurmountable 48-8 lead with 10:33 left in the game.
The Panthers, undeterred, managed to find the end zone once more with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Javier Shockley to Larry Washington. However, the two-point conversion was no good, and the score was 48-14 with just 4:38 left in the fourth quarter.
As the final seconds ticked away, it was clear that the Youngstown East Golden Bears had dominated the game from start to finish. Their explosive offense and unyielding defense had secured a resounding victory, leaving their fans celebrating in the stands. The Youngstown East Golden Bears had once again proven that they were a force to be reckoned with in high school football.
