Panthers roll in homecoming blowout

Following an impressive 70-6 homecoming victory over Ruskin last week, Park Hill South (2-2) will travel to Grandview (2-2) to face a team the Panthers don’t know a lot about, but know they have historically been a team that finds itself on different sides of high scoring games with an offense that has the potential to tally up yardage if not defended seriously. With the Bulldogs playing on newly installed turf, Park Hill South coach Mark Simcox believes they’ll be ready for the Panthers, but that the focus must still remain internal.

“We haven’t seen them (Grandview) much, except a few plays. We’re playing at their place, so they’re going to be excited,” Simcox said. “We’re going to worry about us, which is what we try to do all the time.”

The Panthers will be looking to get the offensive productive they got last week against Ruskin which featured a version of the balanced pass and run game they have been hoping would come together for a lethal combination all season. While they would score 42 points in the second quarter, Simcox said the team came out a little timid in its first couple drives, something the Panthers have been working on to improve.

“We still came out and played tight in the beginning, but after a couple series we started playing like we have in practice, which we hadn’t been doing,” Simcox said.

That’s about the only critique you could offer at first glance of their Week 4 performance though as the Panthers would put points on the board first when Myles Hammonds took a three-yard handoff into the endzone to put the Panthers up 7-0 late in the first quarter. Ruskin’s Kaymon Lunn took the ensuing kickoff the length of the field for a touchdown. The Eagles missed the extra point, leaving Park Hill South up 7-6 and indicating the game ahead might be an offensive shootout. That would be true only for the Panthers from that point forward as quarterback Carson Reid hit receiver Craig Scott on the opening drive of the second quarter for a short four-yard touchdown pass to put the Panthers up 14-6 and off to the races. It would be the first of six scoring drives that would result in touchdowns for Park Hill South.

A combination of special teams and defensive turnovers going the Panthers’ way put them in ideal field possession to capitalize and eventually extend that lead to 49-6 before halftime. Simcox says in order for their strengths to be utilized, offensive rhythm has to be consistent.

“Our offense is a lot about rhythm,” Simcox said. “Trying to get the proper mix (of run and pass) where one compliments the other, but we’re getting closer to that. We’re throwing when they don’t necessarily expect us to throw it and we’re running when they don’t think we’re going to run it. So it’s getting a little more balanced.”

By the time it was all said and done the 70-6 final score made it evident the goal of balanced rhythm had been accomplished as a number of Panthers would get in on the action at some point or another. Quarterbacks Shaefer Schuetz and Carson Reid would combine for five touchdown passes for 110 yards. Receiver Craig Scott pulled in three receptions for 42 yards, all of which for touchdowns while running back Myles Hammonds ran the ball 15 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Ronnie Bertelsmeyer and Derrick Cook would record touchdown receptions in the second half while Zac Ricketts and Kyle Reardon would add touchdown carries as well.

With such a wide-margined win under their belts, Simcox made clear it would only be beneficial if it contributes towards the long-term and makes them better for the second half of their season.

“If we did what we’re supposed to, then it’s something we can build on and move forward with,” Simcox said.