The Lufkin Panthers showcased their dominance on Friday at Abe Martin Stadium, defeating the Galveston Ball Golden Tornadoes 52-14. This convincing victory not only highlighted the Panthers” offensive prowess but also secured their place in the playoffs, where they will face Houston Westbury on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Butler Stadium in Houston.
Starting the game with urgency, Lufkin quickly established a 17-0 lead. The Panthers, who are now 7-3 overall with a 4-2 district record, capitalized on their early scoring opportunities. They were eager for a win to boost their playoff positioning, and with Barbers Hill defeating Beaumont West Brook 32-21, Lufkin secured the third seed in District 9-5A DI.
Head coach Carl Abseck expressed pride in his team”s performance, stating, “We started the game just like we wanted to, and it”s important to get off to a fast start. We hadn”t done that much lately, but tonight we played well in the first quarter and a half.” He noted the positive momentum the team is building, emphasizing the need for continued improvement.
The Panthers scored on their first three possessions, beginning with an eight-play, 44-yard drive capped off by a 4-yard touchdown run from Kenneth Waters. Following a successful stop on defense, Javion Johnson extended the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0. An onside kick recovered by Dequorius Hall on the ensuing kickoff allowed Lufkin to increase their lead with a 28-yard field goal from Cooper Camp, making it 17-0.
Despite the Panthers” strong start, the Tornadoes managed to respond. Midway through the second quarter, Torin Petteway led a drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run, narrowing Lufkin”s lead to 17-7. However, Lufkin quickly regained control, with Johnson scoring again on a 14-yard run, pushing the score to 24-7 at halftime.
The second half saw Lufkin maintain their momentum, with Waters scoring a 6-yard rushing touchdown. The Tornadoes fought back with a 13-yard touchdown run by Coreion Sanders, bringing the score to 31-14. Yet, Lufkin answered with a spectacular 91-yard kickoff return touchdown by Devon Wallace, extending their lead to 38-14.
In the final quarter, the Panthers added two more touchdowns, with Kylon Coleman and Robert Taylor both finding the end zone, finalizing the score at 52-14. Lufkin ended the game with 287 rushing yards, with Waters leading the way with 70 yards on 14 carries and Johnson contributing 84 yards on 10 carries. Petteway was the standout for Galveston Ball, finishing with 76 yards on 16 carries, while Sanders struggled, completing only 3 of 17 passes for 27 yards.
This decisive win not only reflects Lufkin”s strong season but sets the stage for an exciting playoff matchup against Westbury.
