The Nease Panthers secured a district championship for the second consecutive year, as they put on a clinic in all three phases of the game in their latest win of the 2024 season, a 48-15 road victory over the Tocoi Creek Toros on Oct. 25.
The title was clinched following the Panthers’ win and Gainesville Buchholz defeating Bartram Trail 38-37 in overtime.
The night started in a hurry for Panthers as senior Elisha Luckett returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for are score and they were on the board with a bang.
“We’ve been practicing kick return a lot, and I just saw my blockers do their thing and when I saw the opening I just hit it full speed,” Luckett said.
From then on, it was a show put on by the Panthers’ offensively, especially through the air as Nate Harry tossed four touchdown strikes on the night to four different receivers. He finished just playing the first half and completed seven of 10 passes for 271 yards to accompany the touchdowns.
“I’ll tell you what, Nate Harry was lights out tonight,” Nease head coach Collin Drafts said. “It was just pitch and catch out there, and you can’t ask for a better first half then to be up 41-0.”
The receivers Harry connected with included Tyler Ghazanfari, Maddox Spencer, Fletcher Reston and Vernon Stephens.
Much of the Panthers’ success came on deep balls, as two of Harry’s touchdown passes in the game went for 43 and 59 yards, as well as other chunk plays that setup other scores.
Stephens ended up with two receiving touchdowns on the night as he also caught a 71-yarder from senior John Carragher, who came in and played quarterback in the second half.
The defense shut out the Toros in the first half and forced a pair of turnovers with Luckett and Kash Kolbow intercepting passes.
Luckett’s interception came on a lofted ball into the secondary, where he showcased his athletic ability by boxing out the receiver and making a nice grab to high point the pass.
“That play was just all about watching film,” Luckett said. “Coach “G” (Garth) really puts it in our minds to be disciplined and to be ready for all fake and trickery stuff. I knew once I saw the ball in the air, that I just had to go make a play.”
