Klein Oak Panthers vs Notre Dame Knights September 7, 2009
Delays at Cowboy Stadium hurt the Panthers
An exciting day in Dallas started at 7:00 a.m. with team breakfast followed by a walk through at Cowboy Stadium at 8:00 a.m. A tour gave our student athletes a look at the under belly of the brand spanking new 1.2 billion dollar facility. A special presentation by Nike was included. Nike sales professionals gave our team a very close look at new products and technology being developed and delivered to the market.
Game time scheduled for 7:30 p.m. was pushed to 8. Our team hit the locker room at 6:00 pm to begin final game preparations. At nine the Panthers finally hit the field for warm ups. Play started at about 9:20.
Panthers kick. Notre Dame takes over 1st and 10 on the Panther 49 after a 40 yard kick return. The first series goes like this; run up the middle no gain, short pass right and left, run up the middle, run right (a couple first downs) then …. Trey Payne strips the ball after a short completion and KO has the ball on the Knight 16 yard line. With the ball sitting on the 16, 3rd and 10 Andy Wilson hits Michael Starr in the flat connecting for 12 yards and a first down. Another completion to Starr, a nice run up the middle by Walt Williams and its 1st and 10 on the 41 for KO. Next Michael Shroble punts one deep. The Knights get nothing on the return after excellent down field coverage by Oak.
Notre Dame rambles down the field, converting a 4th and one in Panther territory to keep the drive alive. Panther ‘D’ had some nice stops but was unable to keep the Knights out of the end zone. After the extra point was good Oak trailed 7 – 0.
No return on the kick off; KO has the ball f1st and 10 on the 20. The 2nd quarter starts. Wilson scrambles for good yardage (a couple times), hits Max Stevenson and Tory Waites for nice gains. The drive is kept alive with several first downs plus a mix of play calling. 3rd and 11 from the Knight 25; the O.L. (Kyle Bottoms, Skyler Denny, Justin Moreno, Arthur Fatu and Jeremy Jones) give Wilson the time he needs to connect with Tory on a corner route and the Panthers are on the board. Shroble is good on the extra point and the score is knotted up at 7.
A pooch kick by KO and ND starts 1st and 10 on the 26. A double pass by the Knights on the second play put them in the end zone. Add in the extra point and its 14 – 7. A deep kick by ND and no return gives the Panthers 1st and 10 on the 20. Three and out for the KO offense. Shroble punts and ND has the ball 1st and 10 on the 27 after a block in the back penalty on the return. The D.L. (Tom Call, Marcus McClendon and Nathan Hughes) and middle line backers (Tyler Jones and Eddie Fatu) stuff up the run. Coverage by Edward Germany, Nick Baratti, Payne and Corey Abron force ND to punt after only one 1st down. An outstanding return by Tory (21 yards) and KO has the ball 1st and 10 on the 50 yard line. Unable to capitalize on the super fine field position Oak punts after 3 incomplete passes.
Heavy pressure and a beautiful read by Jones almost gave OAK a pick 6. Hughes scores a sack and things look bright for the Panthers. Two long bombs by the Knights and they are in field goal range. The 47 yard try is short and left. KO takes over on downs at the 30. Behind good line blocking Wilson hits Stevenson and Tory for excellent gains to bring the first half to a close. ND leads at the half, 14 – 7.
KO receives the ball to start the 3rd quarter. A twelve yard kick return and its 1st and 10 on the 12. Two runs and a short pass….. KO punts. No return on the punt but a personal foul on KO gives ND great field position 1st and 10 on the KO 36. Another un-necessary roughness call on KO and ND has a 1st and 10 on the 15. A quick pitch right, add the extra point and ND leads 21 – 7. KO returns the ball to the 27 then starts 1 and 10. A punt by Shroble after 3 plays and the KO defense is back on the field. Panther team ‘D’ lead by big hits from Eddie Fatu, Baratti, Luke Muncie, Hughes stiffen up but unfortunately don’t keep ND out of the end zone. The extra point is blocked by Muncie. ND leads 27 – 7.
Panthers start with good field position on the 33 yard line. A complete pass to Brandon McClain and a 12 yard scramble by Wilson highlight the short 7 play drive; Oak punts. The 4th quarter starts. The ND offense is 3 and out after a nice defensive play by Demetrich Gilliam. The punt return is mis-handled by Oak the drive starts deep – deep in Panther territory on the 5 yard line. KO picks up a much needed 1st down unfortunately the drive stalls. A punt by Oak is followed by another score by ND. After the extra point its 34 – 7.
ND manages another field goal to make the final score 37 – 7. The Panthers fought like warriors. The first half of football was competitive and action packed. Miss queues and penalties in the 3rd quarter turned the tables in favor of the Knights. The game ended sometime after midnight.
