Wenatchee Panthers Football Dominates South Kitsap 34-7 in Home Opener
(Disclaimer: Because players’ jersey numbers can be hard to see from the stands (or over video stream), and because box scores for high school games are rarely released, we can’t always attach players’ names to every single play they make, as much as we would love to give them the credit.)
It was a picture-perfect, sunny Saturday afternoon in the valley for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff, and the Wenatchee Panthers football team made sure the product on the field matched the weather. Firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball, Wenatchee dismantled the visiting South Kitsap Wolves in a resounding 34-7 home-opening victory.
A Flawless Start Under the Sun
The game truly could not have started any better for the Panthers. Taking the field for their opening offensive drive, senior quarterback Rigo Garcia looked incredibly sharp, effortlessly carving up the secondary and marching the offense straight down the field. The clinical opening drive (in spite of multiple penalties) culminated in a passing touchdown from Garcia to set the tone.
Wenatchee’s defense immediately matched the offense’s energy. On South Kitsap’s first possession, the Panthers swarmed the backfield, forcing a fast three-and-out where all three plays resulted in tackles for a loss.
The aerial assault continued into the second quarter when Garcia launched a beautiful 36-yard touchdown strike—which appeared to be hauled in by #4 Griffin Butler—pushing the lead to 14-0.
South Kitsap Hangs Tough Before the Break
To their credit, the Wolves didn’t fold. South Kitsap leaned heavily on their ground game, utilizing hard, physical running from their running backs and quarterback to punch in their first touchdown of the afternoon, cutting the deficit to 14-7. The drive also ate up over 8 minutes of game clock.
Getting the ball back with limited time before the half, Wenatchee emptied the playbook, as highlighted by a successfully executed hook-and-ladder play that went for 16 yards. The Panthers found themselves at the South Kitsap 28-yard line with time for one final snap. Rather than risk an incredibly long high school field goal attempt, Garcia launched a Hail Mary into the end zone. The intended receiver nearly drew a defensive pass interference penalty (which would have granted an untimed down), but the flags stayed tucked away and the pass fell incomplete.
Despite being outplayed in the passing game and struggling against a stout Panther front, South Kitsap went into the locker room down by only a single possession, thanks to good clock management.
The Defense Takes Over
Unfortunately for the Wolves, the dam broke immediately in the third quarter.
On the very first drive of the second half, Panther defenders exploded into the backfield, sacking the South Kitsap quarterback from behind. The ball popped loose directly into the hands of a Wenatchee teammate, who promptly rumbled into the end zone for a defensive touchdown. A missed extra point made it 20-6, but the momentum had permanently shifted.
The Panther defense was absolutely relentless. On South Kitsap’s ensuing series, Wenatchee blew up three straight plays for negative yardage before bursting through the line to block the fourth-down punt.
Starting with a massive gift on the South Kitsap 5-yard line, Garcia took matters into his own hands with a quick rushing touchdown. Although the two-point conversion attempt failed, the Panthers had blown the game wide open at 26-7.
Wenatchee put the final nail in the coffin later in the half with another beautifully thrown touchdown pass from Garcia to Butler. A successful two-point conversion brought the final score to a dominant 34-7.
An Aerial Attack to Remember
If you were in the stands on Saturday, you felt it: this was one of the best passing performances from a Wenatchee Panthers football quarterback we’ve seen. It felt like very few of Garcia’s passes ever touched the ground.
He also has the weapons to make this offense terrifying. This looks to be the most talented group of Panther pass-catchers we have seen in a long, long time. Specifically, #2 Chase Ballew, #3 Micah Knell, and #4 Griffin Butler have all been incredible early this season, and it feels like any one of them is capable of taking over a game on any given Friday (or Saturday).
Paired with a defense that practically lived in South Kitsap’s backfield all afternoon, racking up sack after sack alongside massive tackles for loss, this is shaping up to be a truly special season for Panther fans.
Stay locked into the action all season long. Head over to our Wenatchee Panthers Football hub for the latest team coverage.
Also, keep your eyes on CWSN later this week. We will be dropping a full preview of the massive upcoming showdown featuring Moses Lake @ Wenatchee!