Panthers football loses in last minute to Tigers, 37-30

The Porterville High School football team dropped their thirdstraight game Friday night, this one a 37-30 loss delivered by the Delano Tigers with the game-deciding touchdown coming in the final minute of the game.

After trailing the Tigers 27-6 at one point in the second quarter, the Panthers appeared to be on the verge of a secondhalf comeback, eventually knotting the game up at 30 with a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.

Everything seemed to be falling into place for the Panthers, who had possession of the ball on their 32-yard line, with 3:20 left on the clock. PHS managed to move the ball across midfield with 50 seconds left in the game, and just as they were knocking on Delano’s door, the Panthers coughed up the ball with an interception that was returned the distance for a touchdown. The final Tigers’ score put the game away, 3730.

“We had no adjustments in the second half,” Panthers coach Michael Machado said. “We just decided to play football, which is something we didn’t do in the first.”

The Panthers looked good early on, nearing the red zone after a 10play drive to start the game.

However, the efficient ball movement ended with a fumble recovered by the Tigers. Four snaps later, Delano reached the end zone, scorching the Panthers with a 64-yard touchdown run.

The Panthers were able to answer with a 65yard touchdown from senior running back Mark Inman. After a failed two-point conversion, the Panthers trailed the Tigers, 7-6. From there, Delano went on to dominate the first half, out scoring Porterville 2714.

The Panthers were unable to stop the big plays early on. Three of the four Tigers’ touchdowns in the first half went for more than 40 yards each.

The Panthers battled back in the second half, scoring 16 points, and holding the Tigers to only 3 to tie the game at 30.

But the interception would ultimately cost them the game.

PHS will be the away team in this Friday’s crosstown rivalry match up against the Monache.

The 3-5 Panthers will look to end their losing streak as they face the 2-6 Marauders at Jacob Rankin Stadium in the Granite Bowl.