PITTSBORO–Nothing lingers longer than a close loss.
Orange has had plenty of decisive losses over the last five years. For one reason on another, those can leave your system quickly as coaches prepare for the next game.
But Friday’s first-ever trip to Seaforth will ache longer than any other among the Panthers’ current nine-game losing streak. It may have cost Orange the Big 7 Conference championship.
Moments after Markus Thomas appeared to seal an Orange win with an interception with 1:32 remaining, the Panthers fumbled the snap on a quarterback-centre exchange, the only time it happened all night. It was recovered by Seaforth senior Dylan Watkins at the Orange 21-yard line.
On the next play from scrimmage, Hawks’ quarterback Duncan Parker rushed out of a timeout and immediately took the snap, appearing to catch the Orange defense off guard. Parker ran down the near sideline for a 21-yard touchdown for the game-winning score. Parker added a two-point pass to Jude O’Neill as the Hawks defeated Orange 29-22 on Homecoming night at Hawks Stadium.
It was a heart rendering loss for the Panthers, who had made big defensive plays throughout the fourth quarter to take a late lead and appear on the verge of winning its first-ever Big 7 Conference game.
With Seaforth leading 21-14 and 7:00 remaining in regulation, Seaforth punter Patrick Miller had a punt deflected at the line of scrimmage. The ball traveled nine yards to the Hawks 42-yard line. Orange junior Kayden Brasher rushed for 23 yards. Bradsher ran into the left corner of the end zone for his second touchdown of the game with 5:46 remaining. Trailing 21-20, Bradsher put the Panthers in the lead when he extended the ball over the goal line for the 2-point play as his legs were taken out from under him.
It didn’t appear Orange’s lead would last long after Seaforth’s Max Hinchman returned the subsequent kickoff 29 yards to the 50-yard line. Parker immediately found Nicholas Gregory on a swing pass for 39 yards to the Orange 11-yard line. On 1st down, Parker threw the ball into a crowded area under pressure and was picked off by Panther senior Jaden Gregory with 4:55 remaining at the 5-yard line.
Orange coach Fritz Hessenthaler’s run-oriented offense is built to drain the clock and had done exactly that during the first half. But Seaforth’s defense came up big with a three-and-out.
After a 22-yard punt by Bradsher from his own end zone, a touchdown pass by Parker to Hinchman was called back due to a holding penalty. On 3rd-and-13, Thomas made the interception that appeared to clinch the win for Orange.
The Panthers (0-6, 0-1 in the Big 7 Conference) are now guaranteed its fifth straight losing season and seventh straight non-winning season. They finished 3-3 in the pandemic spring year of 2020.
Orange ended a 12-quarter offensive scoreless streak and took its first lead of the season when they opened the game with a textbook 17-play, 64-yard drive that took 10:40 off the clock. Hessenthaler’s was in a gambling mood, going for it on 4th-and-3 from the Panther 43-yard line, where quarterback Jackson Moody threw a lateral to Hunter Albert for ten yards. Orange converted another 4th down and two more 3rd downs until Moody found Bradsher for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:20 remaining in the first quarter. A 2-point run by Thomas failed to keep the Panther advantage at 6-0, Orange’s first lead of the season.
On his first carry of the season, Seaforth’s Raiden Flowers ran for 26 yards to immediately push the Hawks in Panther real estate. Parker hit Mason Pooley for a 15-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. The extra point by Tyler Watkins gave the Hawks a 7-6 lead, which they would take to the locker room.
Orange’s ball control offense succeeded in keeping Parker off the field. Seaforth had only two drives in the first half.
Miller returned the opening kickoff 29 yards to the Orange 36-yard line to start the second half. Gregory converted a 3rd-and-1 with a one-yard carry, which led to a 13-yard gain by Parker. Gregory streaked up the middle for a nine-yard touchdown with 8:39 remaining in the third quarter. Parker added a 2-point run to put the Hawks ahead 15-6.
It looked like Orange would go three-and-out on its next possession, but Seaforth was called for roughing the kicker. On the next play, Bradsher streaked ahead for 29 yards, Orange’s longest play from scrimmage on the night. Bradsher nearly scored two plays later when he gained seven yards and was tackled at the 1-yard line. Moody scored his first rushing touchdown. Moody found Owen Phillips for a 2-point conversion to reduce the Hawks lead to 15-14.
Gregory added his second touchdown to cap a 8-play, 74-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown run with 1:20 left in the third quarter.
Orange forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter, including a fumble recovery before the interceptions by Thomas and Gregory.
Orange will face J.F. Webb next Friday in Hillsborough.
Seaforth (2-4, 1-0) will travel to Cedar Ridge.
