The Panthers ended their regular season at 2-7 following a 42-0 loss to the rival Whitewater Wildcats. It was the first time The Mill had been shut out in a regular-season game since falling to Brookwood, 30-0, on Aug. 30, 2003.
“We were outmanned,” head coach Chad Phillips said. “They’re definitely one of the best teams we played this season.” Whitewater holds a 5-2 series lead over the Panthers.
One reason for the Panthers’ shut out was their lack of offense, accumulating 76 total yards compared to Whitewater’s 329 yards. The Wildcat defense held the Panthers to six yards in the first half . The Panthers made their first first down with 10:39 left in the third quarter and were 0-for-10 on third-down conversions but 2-of-3 on fourth down. The offense has failed to score a touchdown since Drew spoiled the Panthers’ Homecoming night on Sept. 28.
“Every team has playmakers,” Phillips said. “Most of ours are injured.” Junior running back John Smith, who was sidelined at the beginning of the season from a knee injury, didn’t play a down. Freshman running back Dion Munerlyn, who missed the Northgate game after suffering a concussion against McIntosh, ran the ball 11 times for 34 yards. The Panther rushing attack totaled 59 yards on 34 carries.
The Panther defense couldn’t stop the Wildcats from converting 17 first downs as they marched up and down the field. Whitewater’s first score came after junior quaterback Kyle Moseley threw an interception in the first quater to give the Wildcats the ball on the Panthers’ 24-yard line. Their next three scoring drives went for 52,57, and 54 yards after forcing the Panthers to punt deep in their own territory. The Panthers’ nail in the coffin came when Whitewater’s Kendall Conley ran back a punt 68 yards for a touchdown with 6:33 left in the third. The Panther defense recorded no forced turnovers. By this time, the Wildcats had substituted almost all of their starters.
“We didn’t tackle very well,” Phillips said. “You can’t do that against their running backs.”
The Panthers are preparing for a region play-in game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at home against Mt. Zion, who they beat 46-0 on Sept. 7. The game will have no effect on any playoff positions since the Panthers’ chances of making the first round were diminished with their loss to Northgate. If they lose tomorrow night, they will tie the ’07 season record of 2-8, the worst in school history. The school opened in 1997.
“We’re taking this week like the first week of the regular season,” Phillips said. “We want to go into winter workouts and spring football with a good taste in our mouths.”