The United Township Panthers had to play catchup almost all Friday night, in the end falling to Sterling, 23-19 in the Western Big 6 opener at the Soule Bowl. A bad snap over UT QB Matthew Kelley’s head in Panthers’ territory was picked up by the Golden Warriors and run in for a TD just 15 seconds into the game. Kelley, returning after being injured in Week 1, ran 44 yards to tie the score 7-7 with 5:52 left in the 1st.
Two 33-yard field goals by Sterling’s Ryan Gebhardt, and a 33-yard TD run by the Golden Warriors’ Cale Ledergerber, were sandwiched around Kelley’s second TD run, this one from 23 yards out, leaving the Panthers trailing 20-13 at the half. A third FG made it 23-13 in the 3rd, before Chris Ward’s 1-yard TD run made it 23-19 with 1:19 remaining in the quarter.
But the Panthers (1-2, 0-1 in conference play) were unable to score in the 4th, with an interception of a Kelley pass with 1:55 to play sealing the deal for the Golden Warriors (1-2, 1-0). Kelley finished with 100 rushing yards on 13 carries and threw for another 64 yards.
The Panthers visit Geneseo (3-0, 1-0) Friday night. Live play-by-play on QCSportsNet.com beginning at about 7:15 p.m., presented by Van Hoe Funeral Home.