By Stan Beall
The Star Herald
DURANT —
The French Camp Panthers traveled to Durant last Friday night to play their final regional and regular season game and prevailed over the young Tigers 42-8. French Camp is now 8-2 overall with a perfect 7-0 regional record while Durant is 3-6 overall with a 2-4 regional record.
The Panthers started the scoring early when quarterback Jesse Hosket ran one in from 10 yards out, Sam Gould kick good, to take a 7-0 lead.
Shortly thereafter, quarterback Jesse Hosket found Hagan Box from 41 yards out, Gould kick, to take a 14-0 lead into the second quarter.
Daniel Hughes quickly found pay dirt in the second quarter when he scored from a yard out, Gould kick, to take a commanding 21-0 lead.
Before the half would come to an end Panther running back Jaylon Clemons darted in from 10 yards out, Gould kick, to give French Camp a 28-0 lead going into the half.
The scoring would slow down for the Panthers in the second half, but Clemons found the end zone once again in the third quarter from one yard out to give the Panthers a 35-0 lead to start the fourth.
The Tigers were able to prevent the shutout with a score of their own in the fourth quarter, two-point conversion good, but they still trailed the Panthers 35-8.
The Panthers scored once again on a 14-yard punt return for a touchdown from Lavondra Carter, Gould kick, to push the final score to 42-7.
Offensively the Panthers were led by quarterback Jesse Hosket who completed three of nine pass attempts for 64 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 50 yards on just five carries and a touchdown.
Jaylon Clemons carried the ball 11 times for 96 yards and two touchdowns while Luke McKnight had two carries for 21 yards.
Hagan Box led all receivers with 41 yards on one reception and a touchdown while Lavondra Carter caught two balls for 23 yards.
Defensively the Panthers were led by Daniel Hughes who had eight tackles, Ben Hosket with seven tackles and a quarterback sack and Javante McAdory with five tackles.
McKnight and Andrew Stevens each added one sack each as well.
"It was cold, wet and sloppy Friday night, but we played hard and jumped on them early," said Panther head coach Nathan Wright. "In the beginning we looked pretty sharp, but with the sloppy conditions we made a few miscues offensively and missed some blocks, but overall we played really hard. Durant played hard all night, but it was just one of those games that you have to get through to get ready for the playoffs."
The Panthers have an open date this Friday night before beginning the playoffs next week at home, and the Tigers will finish out the 2012 campaign this Friday night when they travel to Ray Brooks for a 7 p.m. contest.
