Indians fall to Danbury 28-7
By Michael Brooks staff writer
The Danbury Panthers defeated the Ganado Indians 28-7 on Friday night in Ganado.
When the Panthers lined up for the first offensive play of the game against the Indians, their size advantage was apparent. By the end of the game the Panthers had wore down the Indians.
Danbury took the ball to open the game and put together a 58 yard drive capped off by a 28 yard quarterback keeper. The extra point was no good, but the Panther took a 6-0 lead just over four minutes into the game.
The Indians would answer right back on their opening drive of the game when Toby Ortiz scored on a 46 yard run that finished off a 68 yard drive. The extra point was good and Ganado took a 7-6 lead.
The remainer of the first half was a defense battle that saw both teams trade punts until the Panther put together a drive just as the first half was drawing to a close. After an apparent Danbury touchdown pass was negated by a penalty, the Panthers tried a field goal with four seconds left. But an Indian defender got a hand on the ball and the field goal was no good, and Ganado took the 7-6 lead into the locker room.
The first half was all about the Indians defense, but the story of the second half was turnovers. The Indians defense spent a majority of the second half on the field and were wore out by the end of the game.
On the first play of the second half, the Indians fumbled and a Panther picked up the ball and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. After a successful two point conversion, Danbury took a 14-7 lead.
On the following drive, Danbury intercepted a pass and once again took over at the Indians 44 yard line. A few plays later, the Panthers connected on a 45 yard touchdown pass and after converting the 2 points, they took a 22-7 lead.
Heading into the fourth quarter both teams were once again trading punts until Danbury put together a 62 yard drive to take a 28-7 lead.
The Indians moved the ball on their next drive but a Logan Hurt fake punt on 4th and 12 came up a few yards short and the Panthers ran two plays to run out the game clock and walked away with the win.