Lightning ends Panthers’ opener early
St. Frances’ matchup with No. 17 team in nation called off after weather delays
COLLEGE PARK — The season-opening showdown of nationally ranked football teams, St. Frances and St. Joseph’s Prep from Philadelphia, was called off Friday night after 90 minutes of lightning delays.
The Panthers, The Baltimore Sun’s No. 1 team, led 13-7 with 6:05 left in the third quarter when officials sent players to the locker rooms for a third lightning delay at Maryland Stadium. With lightning still flashing in the distance around 10:30 p.m., officials decided the storms were unlikely to stop in time to finish the game.
The game will not be made up, but since it wasn’t completed, St. Frances won’t get a win. It was uncertain Friday night whether it would be considered no game, a win or a tie.
St. Frances overcame several obstacles, including bad snaps, costly penalties and the delays, to score the last 13 points. Joachim Bangda and Blake Corum each ran for a touchdown.
Corum, a transfer from St. Vincent Pallotti, broke the tie with a 10-yard scoring run just after the first 30-minute lightning delay. Bangda’s touchdown tied the game with 45 seconds left in the first quarter. Five minutes earlier, Hawks sophomore quarterback Kyle McCord hit receiver Johnny Freeman for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
At that point, there were three minutes left in the first half. The officials skipped halftime since the 30-minute break came so late in the half, but there were two more delays in the third quarter.
The Panthers are ranked No. 8 in USA Today’s Super 25 while the Hawks are ranked No. 17.
On Friday, the Panthers will host Christ the King from New York City at Utz Field in Patterson Park.
The game wasn’t the only one in the region affected by weather. Most Friday evening games in the state were either suspended or postponed.
Severe storms cropped up and lingered long enough to postpone six of the seven games on the schedule in Carroll County, making those six teams have to wait until today to play their season openers.
In Westminster, the Owls will host Urbana today at 4 p.m. in the Ravens Rise game, while Winters Mill hosts Joppatowne at 1 p.m.
Manchester Valley’s home game with Williamsport was also washed out and reset for Saturday at 5 p.m.
Liberty started its Week 1 home contest against Boys’ Latin and led 13-0 before a weather delay set in in Eldersburg. Officials waited until just before 9 p.m. to postpone the game and have it resume Saturday at 4 p.m. Century’s home game against John Carroll was also washed out. The makeup is Saturday at 4 p.m. in Eldersburg.
Francis Scott Key traveled to North East in Cecil County for its Week 1 tilt and experienced a delay as well. That game was delayed and then postponed around 9 p.m., and reset for Saturday morning at 11.