🏈 Panthers Punch Ticket with Offensive Barrage: PikeView Edges Buffalo 56-48

By: WESTON GORDON

The PikeView Panthers secured a crucial victory last night, defeating the Buffalo Bison in a high-scoring thriller, 56-48. The win caps a successful regular season, propelling the Panthers into the playoffs with an impressive 7-3 overall record. The Panthers’ offense was unstoppable on the ground, but a look at the stat sheet suggests the defense also came up with pivotal plays in a truly nail-biting, back-and-forth contest.

Game Recap: Dominance on the Ground

The Panthers' offense primarily ran through their power running game, overwhelming the Buffalo defense with both volume and efficiency. According to the handwritten game notes, PikeView finished with 42 rushing attempts for 441 yards. The individual efforts were instrumental in securing the win:

• Peyton Mounts was the team's leading rusher, tallying 21 attempts for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns. Mounts, a senior running back and safety, has been a key component of the Panthers' success all season.

• The ground attack was further bolstered by other players:

• Braden Huggins carried the ball 4 times for 42 yards.

• Brayden Mullins added 19 carries for 80 yards and 3 touchdowns.

• Kyle Williams added 3 carries for 6 yards.

• Moose Hedrick had 5 attempts for 26 yards and a touchdown (TD).

• Cook contributed 2 attempts for 12 yards and a touchdown (TD).

The notes indicate "Passing: NONE" and "Receiving: NONE," suggesting the Panthers relied entirely on their running game to pile up the points, a strategy that clearly worked.

Defensive Standouts

While the score was high, the defense still managed to make key plays that proved to be the difference-makers:

• Logan Cook was a disruptive force, recording 2 sacks and a forced fumble (FF). Cook is known for his defensive tenacity, with season stats often showing him as a tackle leader.

• Braden Huggins added a crucial interception (INT).

• The defense also registered a fumble recovery, although the notes indicate the player responsible was "Did not see who got Fumble Recovery."

The Panthers committed 7 penalties for 80 yards, a high total that they will certainly look to clean up as they head into the postseason.

Playoff Preview: Momentum is Key

With this victory, PikeView finishes the regular season with a 7-3 record, securing their spot in the WVSSAC Class AAA playoffs. This final win against a 7-3 Buffalo team provides significant momentum.

The Panthers are a dangerous team when they can control the line of scrimmage, as evidenced by their 275-yard rushing performance last night. Their ability to consistently move the chains on the ground, anchored by players like Mounts and Mullins, will be their key to success in the postseason.

The biggest challenge will be maintaining defensive pressure and minimizing the big plays, especially after surrendering 48 points. However, the presence of playmakers like Owen Underwood, Cook, and Huggins on defense means they have the potential to force critical turnovers and change the flow of a playoff game at any moment.

What's Next: The Panthers now await the final WVSSAC rankings to determine their seed, first-round opponent, and game location. The team will need to carry the intensity and offensive firepower from the Buffalo game into the high-stakes environment of the playoffs. Potential opponents for the first round are Bridegport and crosstown rival Princeton.