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Panthers shut out Presidents

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Panthers moved to 3-2 and 1-2 in the Patriot League with their first shutout since 2016 (41-0 vs. Quincy).

Whitman-Hanson Regional High football head coach Mike Driscoll couldn’t have asked for much more out of his team than he received Friday evening.

The Panthers stymied the Presidents offense, forcing them into five turnovers, while giving their defense headaches courtesy of six touchdowns in a dominating 39-0 Patriot League Keenan Division victory at Dennis M. O’Brien Field to snap a two-game losing streak.

“It was pretty good,” Driscoll said of the win. “They worked hard this week and really focused and it all paid off right there.”

W-H (3-2, 1-2) poured in its first 19 points while having the ball for all of 4:30.

Senior captain Rian Schwede shined for W-H receiving (30 yards), passing (11 yards) and rushing for (2 yards) TDs in the rout.

“It’s pretty cool,” Driscoll said of Schwede’s three-TD night. “We did a little experimenting with it. We tried it today and it (Schwede’s versatility) makes us a better team.”

It took the Panthers all of 52 seconds to find pay dirt when senior captain Ethan Phelps (8 carries for 92 yards) took the second play from scrimmage 18 yards for a score.

“Ethan ran great tonight,” Driscoll said. “He had an amazing night. If he can run like that, we’re in good shape.”

The ensuing Quincy (1-4, 1-3) possession was halted when Panthers junior Joe McStravick picked up a fumble to give them possession at the Presidents 40. Two plays later, junior signal-caller John Zeidan connected with Schwede on a 30-yard TD.

On the next Presidents drive, it was Panthers senior Nate Beath wreaking havoc in the backfield. After back-to-back tackles for loss, Beath scooped up a fumble recovery at the Quincy 11 to give W-H prime field position.

“Nate is an amazing athlete,” Driscoll said. “He does anything you ask him to do, so that helps. He’s just a super star when it comes to wanting to do whatever. Most kids wouldn’t want to play the nose, but he’s never questioned it.”

Schwede made sure to capitalize on the opportunity by hitting senior captain Jacob Nixon for an 11-yard score to push the Panthers ahead 19-0 with 10:50 remaining in the second quarter.

A 2-yard TD score from Beath with 2:43 remaining in the first half made it 26-0.

Third-quarter rushing scores from senior Billy Martell (7 yards) and Schwede capped the scoring at 39.

W-H is back in action Friday, Oct. 12 at home for senior night at 7 p.m. against league rival Silver Lake (1-4, 1-3).

“We got to carry this momentum into Silver Lake next week,” Driscoll said. “They’ll be excited, the parents will be excited, but we’ll take it one step at a time. But for now, this one feels pretty good.”