On an uncharacteristically muggy Saturday afternoon in the Pacific Northwest, the Bonney Lake Panthers embarked on a new era, stepping onto the field for the first time as members of the SPSL 4A division. The stands were a sea of neon yellow and orange, the rowdy home crowd eager to witness the dawn of the Javid Shoemaker era. Shoemaker, the Panthers' new head coach, brings a fresh approach to a program that saw success last season in the PCL 3A division, finishing with a 7-4 record and third place in the district. But the leap to 4A was never going to be easy, and their season opener against the Eastmont Wildcats—a team that finished first in their division with a 9-1 overall record last year—proved to be a trial by fire.
The game started with a burst of excitement for the home team. Just two minutes in, senior running back Jace Cartwright electrified the crowd with a swift sweep play, finding the end zone to give the Panthers an early 6-0 lead. The roar of the neon-clad fans reverberated through the stadium, setting the tone for what looked to be a high-octane matchup.
But Eastmont, unfazed by the early blow, answered swiftly. Less than three minutes later, the Wildcats' ground game struck back, putting them ahead 7-6. The first quarter continued to see-saw, with Wildcats quarterback Dax Dickson scrambling far left to punch in another rushing touchdown, pushing their lead to 14-6.
Bonney Lake showed flashes of promise in the first half. Jaedon Kaiser’s impressive 38-yard kick return had the Panthers primed to close the gap, but they struggled to capitalize on key opportunities. Their persistence paid off in the second quarter when a timely fumble recovery by Gavin Ruggenberg on the Panthers' 44-yard line set up a field goal, narrowing the deficit to 9-14. Just before the half, quarterback Clete Gilbert connected with Brendan Powell on a perfectly placed pass into the corner of the end zone, sending the Panthers into the locker room with a 16-14 lead.
However, the second half belonged to Eastmont's defense, particularly free safety Evan Methena, who single-handedly swung the game in the Wildcats’ favor. With just under three minutes left in the third quarter, Methena picked off a pass at midfield and returned it for a touchdown, putting Eastmont back in the lead, 21-16. Methena wasn’t done. Early in the fourth quarter, he intercepted another pass, this time off a tipped ball, and once again took it to the house, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 28-16.
As the clock ticked down, Bonney Lake struggled to find answers against the relentless Eastmont defense. With just a minute left in the game, the Wildcats delivered the final blow, returning their third interception of the day for a touchdown, sealing a 34-16 victory for the Wildcats.
For Bonney Lake, the loss was a tough introduction to the 4A landscape. But amid the disappointment, there were glimpses of potential. Coach Shoemaker’s new regime will face plenty of challenges this season, but with each game, the Panthers will have the opportunity to grow, adjust, and find their groove in their new division. As the neon lights faded and the crowd dispersed, the Panthers were left to regroup, knowing that the road ahead in 4A is long, but the journey has only just begun.
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