The Prairiland Patriots spoiled the Alba-Golden Panthers 2021 home opener as they ground out a 28-7 win Friday. Although little consolation to the Panthers, the game was very much in question until late in the third quarter.

Alba-Golden’s high water mark came with just a couple of minutes left in the third quarter.

The Panthers had stopped a Prairiland drive by forcing a turnover-on-downs near midfield. It was an emphatic stop, with the Alba-Golden defense rising up to push the Patriots fourth down run back into the backfield.

The Panthers took over on the Patriots 43-yard line. On third-and-10, quarterback Blake Weissert hit Jerry Skinner over the middle. Skinner made a nice catch and turned upfield for nearly a ten-yard gain. 

A quarterback sneak gained the first down, and Alba-Golden was in business at the Prairiland 35-yard line, first-and-10. 

The wheels then began to fall off for the home side. Two penalties, a dropped pass and a second incompletion left them back on their side of the field with fourth-and-long.

The ensuing punt was shanked, and the visitors took over at the 50-yard line.

Had the Panthers been able to finish that drive after the turnover-on-downs, it would have made the game a one-possession affair going into the final quarter.

As it was, however, the Patriots systematically turned the corner on the Panther defense and scored to go up 21-0. The sequence decided the game.

Prairiland enjoyed a significant size advantage along the offensive and defensive fronts, and they used that advantage to roll up 364 yards on the night. The Panthers managed 141 yards from scrimmage, mixing a short passing attack with their run game. 

The Patriots scored on their first possession on a drive which stretched the Panther defense from sideline to sideline. The score came on a 30-yard dash on an outside option play. 

It was the only score of the first half, as each team turned the ball over twice in their remaining possessions.

The visitors scored again to open the second half. They stayed on the ground and pushed 65 yards to score through the middle of the defense. 

After a beautiful Weissert punt, the Patriots gambled on the fourth-and-short which set up the defining sequence of the game. 

The closing minutes of the game saw scores by both teams. The Patriots hit a long post-route for a score with 2:27 remaining on the clock. The Prairiland quarterback released the ball a split second before Panther Tyler Perez delivered a crushing tackle.

The Panthers were determined not to be shut-out. After taking over on their own 44-yard line, halfback Shawn Gaskill split the defense with a 25-yard gallop through the middle. Four plays later, Weissert connected with Gaskill in the left flat. Gaskill turned upfield and scored with seconds left to play.  

Previously, Alba-Golden had generated two great scoring opportunities which went amiss. In the second quarter, a 14-play drive took them to the Patriot 8-yard line. There two stops for no gain and two incompletions killed the scoring opportunity.

Early in the fourth quarter, Jack Patton’s kickoff return gave them the ball at the Patriot 39-yard line. Alba-Golden could not capitalize on the return, as they turned the ball over on downs. 

There will be plenty of learning points from the season opener, and the team will be better for it.

They will be eager to demonstrate those adjustments as they travel to Big Sandy Friday to face the Wildcats.