Slowing down the Cyclones

The Southeast Cyclones are not used to being scored on much this season, much less minutes into a game. That is exactly hat happened when they faced the Saratoga Panthers in the game on October 9.

The Cyclones are undefeated and a No. 1 team, so Panthers Head Coach Logan Wright wanted to get on the board fast.

Panther Heston Fisher came through for Saratoga with the first score in the beginning minutes of the 1st quarter.

"That was the plan," Wright said. "Get the ball to start, go down and score and see how they respond. Southeast has never been put in that situation this season."

The plan worked.

"We felt that our pass game is pretty strong and we can run effectively. So we marched down the field and it was kind of a wild play," Wright said. "We threw a slant route to Heston, it bounced in the air a few times and he was on his back and caught it."

Unfortunately for the Panthers, the Cyclones almost ran the kick back and scored a few plays later.

Both team's defenses held each offense to no scoring in the 1st quarter until Panther Geoffrey Johnson went in for a score as the 1st quarter was ready to expire. Saratoga was ahead 12-7.

In the 2nd quarter, Southeast was able to get down the field but were held back on several attempts. The Panthers were not able to stop the Cyclones on two scoring drives as the 2nd quarter ran down. At halftime, the score was 12-20.

Wright was happy the Panthers were only down by a touchdown at halftime given how Southeast had decimated opponents at this point in a game.

The 3rd quarter had both teams stay scoreless. Early in the 4th quarter, Panther Teegan Love ran for 40 yards to get close to the Cylcone goal line only to have it nullified by illegal formation.

The last five minutes of the 4th quarter had Southeast score and the Panthers found themselves down by two touchdowns. Although the Panthers did not score, they did stop another Cyclone drive at the end.

"If a few plays had gone a little different, I think we could have beaten them," Wright said. "Considering some of the scores Southeast has put up this season, I am pleased with how well we fought."

Wright said the game proved to him that the Panthers are physically up there with the best teams this season.

"The boys believe it now too," Wright said. "Just ask them how physical it was out there. Stat wise it was a pretty even game. It would have been nice to pull it out."

Wright said Noah Rimmer is the bedrock of the defense.

"We don't get stops without him," Wright said. "He knows that I feel that way about him, but I don't always talk about him on the radio or paper. He is as good as it gets in all of nine man."

Tucker Carricato is a freshman that has impressed both the coach and team.

"He doesn't get nervous, he just gets it and he is really good," Wright said. "I have players come up to me and say how tough Tucker is. If you can win praise from players like Teegan, Noah and Gavin; that does it for me."

Zack Standard's ability is another reason Wright thought the Panthers might pull an upset.

"Every team that I have seen on film has had to double team the nose guard," Wright said. "Zack is our center and I told him 'Zack I think you got him' and he did it. Southeast has a great defense, and without Zack in that center position one-on-one, it might have killed us to double team. Zack is very good at football. He is the 'I will do whatever you need coach' type of kid."

Wright also had good words for Slayd Daley and Geoffrey Johnson.

"Slayd is a sophomore and he's sticking those running backs as good as anyone," Wright said. "Geoffrey got another touchdown and I am happy for him because he is just an awesome program kid."

He said watching his team hold their own against Southeast was fun.

"I think it is all coming together," Wright said.

The next game is against Wright at home at 5 p.m. on October 16 at Saratoga.