Panthers Deliver A Pounding

The typical advantage of going into the IHSA playoffs with a 9-0 record is that your first round opponent is often a tad on the weaker side. That was pretty evident before the game started when overhearing the Clifton Central head coach's "pep talk".

"No matter what happens today, we play as hard as we can," he told his kids.

The Comets came in with a 5-4 record, but had only beaten one team with a winning record (Salt Fork) and that was in a squeaker 28-27. So, yeah, the Panthers were a bit out of their pay grade.

After forcing the Comets to a three-and-out on their opening possession, the Pa...