The 19-game losing streak is over.
The Paschal Panthers (1-2) defeated the Dallas Sunset Bison (0-3) 41-0 Friday for the Panthers’ first victory since Sept, 11, 2010 against Azle.
This game was the first shutout for Paschal since Sept. 18, 2009, when the Panthers beat South Hills, 23-0.
The Panthers took an early lead in this game as senior cornerback Armando Gomez returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown. The score came 66 seconds into the game.
Paschal took advantage of another Bison turnover early in the second qaurter when the Panthers recovered a fumble at the Sunset 11-yard line. Junior quarterback Gibson Duwe then threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Ben Noel to make the score 14-0.
Duwe completed 6 of 14 passes for 74 yards and one touchdown. Noel caught 5 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
The Panthers maintained their 14-point lead into halftime.
A 63-yard touchdown run by junior running back Darrell James on the third play of the second half made the score 21-0 Panthers. James rushed 12 times for 189 yards and 3 touchdowns.
James was in the game for the injured starter, junior Justin Woodard. Woodard injured his knee in the first quarter, Cook said.
The extent of the injury has not been determined, he said.
The Bison mounted a drive after the Paschal score, but junior quarterback Eduardo Velasquez fumbled the ball away at the Panther 10-yard line. That fumble was the fourth turnover for Sunset.
Later in the third quarter, James rushed for his second touchdown of the night, a 27-yard run. That score extended the Panther lead to 28 points.
A trick pass from junior wide receiver Marcos Padron to Noel scored another touchdown for the Panthers. The 38-yard catch was Noel’s second touchdown of the game.
James scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter from five yards out to make the score 41-0.
The Bison did not convert a third or fourth down attempt in the game and they had four turnovers.
The defense executed well and put Paschal in a position to win, Cook said.
The Panthers’ next game is Sept. 28 against Arlington Sam Houston at Farrington Field.
