The Nease Panthers special season continued with a 44-12 victory over the Atlantic Coast Stingrays on Oct. 18.
The Panthers started off a little slow, leading 16-6 at halftime, but poured it on in the second half and there was a running clock in place by the fourth quarter.
With the dominant performance, the Panthers improved to a record of 6-0 and the dream season for the seniors continued, which meant a lot as the senior class got to walk the length of the field, while friends and family members cheered them to cap a memorable senior night.
In honor of the Nease football senior class, here are some of the seniors that highlighted the night:
Defensive tackle Wesley Jester: He provided relentless pressure on the Atlantic Coast quarterback, including leading to an errant pass that was intercepted by fellow senior Elisha Luckett in the first half.
“It feels like I’m playing with an NFL team at times, because our coaches break it down so deep, and we’ve just got the mindset to go all the way this year,” Jester said. “Coach G (defensive coordinator Robert Garth) is someone that I completely trust. If he says it, and you do it, it works perfectly every time.”
“We hadn’t played a game in like two and a half weeks (due to a bye week and Hurricane Milton), so to come out and play a game like this, is like a dream.”
As a result of his play, Jester was chosen by head coach Collin Drafts to be the player that jumps on the pile and is carried on the field by his teammates.
“Honestly, I was a little nervous, because I’m a big guy, but it felt great up there, just one big happy family.”
Running back Andrew Moses: He and fellow running back K.J. Perry came out in the second half running the ball as the Panthers were determined to attack the Stingrays with the ground game.
“Coach said we’re going to go back to the basics and just run right at them with counter and power plays,” Moses said. “When stuff works, you just keep doing it.”
He scored a touchdown to cap the opening drive of the second half.
“It is literally a dream come true, because I didn’t play football until high school, and then it just happens so fast and now we’re already almost through our senior years,” Moses said. “To score a touchdown on senior night, I was really getting chocked up in the end zone just thinking, ‘look where I am now.’”
Quarterback Nate Harry: He accounted for three touchdowns on the night, with two coming on the ground and one through the air.
“We really came together at halftime as an offense, and the second we got back on the field, the offensive line was getting push and they just couldn’t do anything about it,” Harry said. “I love all those boys up front and they’re always protecting me, so I want to show them the love they deserve.”
Harry has embraced his leadership role this year as the team’s starting quarterback.
“We’ve all been working every single day over the last four years to get to this point where we can play at this level and have the type of season we’re having,” Harry said. “It’s no real surprise to any of us, because we know how hard we’ve worked and everything we’ve been through.”
Running back K.J. Perry: He scored a couple of rushing touchdowns in the contest and is just part of an explosive Panthers’ backfield.
“We always do everything together,” Perry said. “Whether it’s eating together, talking together, or just hanging out. It’s made us really close and our confidence in each other comes from that.”
Linebacker Joe Miracle: He was on a mission to pressure the quarterback and create havoc in the backfield, which eventually led to a strip-sack turnover that led to a Panthers’ touchdown.
“Being 6-0 is just so special,” Miracle said. “We knew at halftime that we just weren’t playing our brand of football at that point, and we were able to find that in the second half.” At the end of the day, we’re more than a team, but a family, and when we play our brand, I don’t think there’s anyone in the state that can beat us.”
