On Thursday, September 7th, the Thunder traveled south to Hoyt, Kansas, to face the Royal Valley Panthers. The Thunder and the Panthers both started the season off 1-0 and were looking to make it 2-0.
The Thunder kicked off to Royal Valley to start the game. On the opening drive the Thunder got an interception on third down. The Thunder got their first score on a touchdown pass making it 6-0. The Thunder scored the 2-point conversion, making it 8-0. The Panthers scored their first touchdown off a rushing touchdown and scored the 2-point conversion, making it 8-8. The Thunder answered back getting a touchdown and 2-point conversion ending the quarter 16-8.
Royal Valley's rushing attack didn’t stop with them getting another touchdown and 2-point conversion making it 16-16. The Thunder scored another touchdown and took the lead making it 24-16. Royal Valley kept fighting, scoring another touchdown and 2-point conversion making it 24-24. The Thunder couldn’t score before half and the halftime score was 24-24.
The Panthers kickoff the second half getting the ball on an onside kick. The Thunder answered back, getting a stop and taking possession of the ball. The Thunder were also stopped, making it Panthers possession. The Panther scored but were stopped on the 2-point conversion making it 30-24. The Thunder score once more but get stopped on the 2-point conversion ending the quarter 30-30.
Royal Valley scores again and completes the 2-point conversion making the score 38-30. The Thunder get a touchdown and make the 2-point conversion tying it 38-38. Royal Valley scores a touchdown but doesn’t get the 2-point conversion and takes the lead 44-38. The Panthers get an interception ending the game 44-38.
Even though the Thunder lost, it was a hard-fought game. They had a lot of times where they couldn’t get a stop which could’ve changed the game. The Thunder’s record went to 1-1 and are looking to get a win next week.
“It was a hard-fought game and we had a lot of fun,” Said Tyson Beebe-Dishong.
“We played hard and had a well-fought game but it didn’t end the way we wanted,” said Dason Hill.
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