Panthers shut out by Lisbon in Class A opener

LISBON ? The Panthers moved down into the red zone more than once Wednesday, but the end zone proved harder to find as they dropped a 14-0 game to Lisbon in the Class A playoff opener.

The Panthers fumbled at the Lisbon 8 in the opening quarter, and in the second quarter the visitors came up empty on a goal-line stand inside the Lisbon 1.

The Panther defense kept the game close, holding Lisbon to 272 yards offense, and Lisbon only led 6-0 headed into the final quarter. The defending Class A state champions tacked on the game-clinching touchdown and converted on a two-point conversion with seven minutes remaining.

Lisbon will next face BGM in the playoffs? second round Monday. BGM won their Wednesday match 24-17 against Highland.

Lisbon junior quarterback Logan Rickard, who finished 7-of-14 passing for 136 yards, completed a 17-yard touchdown strike over the middle to tight end Ryan Light in the first quarter. Rickard also scrambled for the final touchdown, a 30-yard run, as he finished the game with 81 yards rushing on 16 attempts. Tyler Svatosch also had an interception for the Lions (9-1).

Pekin held starting running back Cameron Jorgenson to 15 yards on 10 attempts in the defensive slugfest.

The Panthers end the season with a 7-3 overall record.

Individual statistics for Pekin were not yet available at press time.