While their playoff hopes hang by a thread, the United Township Panthers finished the regular season strongly, with a must-win over Galesburg, 40-14 , Friday night at the Soule Bowl. The Panthers (4-5, 3-3 in Western Big 6 play, good for 3rd place) have to hope there are openings for 4-5 teams in the 256-team field, and that their strength of schedule puts them high enough on the list of hopefuls to get in. The pairings will be announced Saturday night. Galesburg (1-8, 0-6) finishes last in conference play.
A muffed punt set up the Silver Streaks’ opening touchdown, but the Panthers then reeled off 40 straight points before a late Galesburg score, accounting for the final tally. Christian Peterson threw 6 yards to Rowan Kallal to make it 7-6 late in the 1st quarter, then in the 2nd, UT got scores from Peterson (a 9-yard run), and Jasiah Massey (an 18-yard pass from Peterson) to go up 18-7 at the half.
Leo Sim ran 6 yards for a TD in the 3rd quarter, then in the 4th, Isaiah Navarrette scored from one yard out, and backup QB Jonathan Drake ran for a 19-yard TD to go up 40-7. Peterson finished with 157 yards passing, 79 of them to Massey. Navarrette totaled 123 rushing yards on 18 carries.