PANTHERS SURVIVE SPARTANS' ONSLAUGHT
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(9/5/07 Chico, CA) Despite holding a three touchdown lead at halftime, the Chico varsity football team needed to hold on to take a 34-27 win over Red Bluff in an Eastern Athletic League game played Friday at University Stadium.
 
On the Panthers' first play from scrimmage, Nate Anderson took the ball 70 yards to set up a first and 10 at the Spartans' 20-yard line. The drive ended two plays later as Anderson went the distance for the game's first touchdown. Kayhan Karatekeli ran in the two-point conversion to give Chico an early 7-0 advantage.
 
Cole McKenzie caught a 50-yard pass to give Red Bluff a first down at the Panthers' 25-yard line. The Spartans had a great scoring chance on second and 7, but Scott Avery was unable to catch Collin Ramirez's pass in the end zone. The drive ended on fourth and 17 when Ramirez threw an incomplete pass intended for Corey Carpenter.
 
Pao Lee's 34-yard gain with less than two minutes left in the first quarter gave Chico a first down at the Red Bluff 35-yard line. They would face a third and 11, but Anderson threw an incomplete pass toward the end zone. However, a pass interference penalty against the Spartans moved the Panthers to the 20-yard line. The drive ended with 13 seconds left in the first as Lee ran his way into the end zone. The extra point attempt was blocked, so Chico's lead stood at 14-0.
 
The Panthers added another touchdown with 10:42 remaining in the second quarter when Matt Carter took the ball 62 yards into the end zone. Kyle Nichols failed on the extra point attempt, so Chico maintained a 20-0 lead. On third and 6 during Red Bluff's next possession, Ramirez scrambled past the Panther defense and earned a first down at midfield. The Spartans reached the Chico 35-yard line and on fourth and 10, McKenzie caught a pass to set up a first and goal at the 10-yard line. They failed to score as Ramirez was stopped less than a yard short of the goal line on fourth down.
 
Karatekeli's 44-yard gain with less than two minutes left in the first half gave the Panthers a first down at the Red Bluff two-yard line. Another touchdown was scored on the next play. Karatekeli added the two-point conversion to put Chico up 28-0. The Spartans responded by taking the ball to the Panthers' 6-yard line on Zach McNeela's long run. On the next play, Ramirez found his way across the goal line. Simon Villalvazo kicked the extra point as Red Bluff trailed 28-7 at the break.
 
The Panthers opened up the second half by making its way to the Spartans' 26-yard line on Carter's 14-yard gain. On the next play, Karatekeli ran past the Red Bluff defense for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was no good, so Chico had a 34-7 lead.
 
Avery responded for the Spartans by taking the kickoff to their 49-yard line. McNeela gained 15 yards on the second play from scrimmage to give Red Bluff a first down at the Panthers' 30-yard line. The drive ended with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter when McKenzie caught a touchdown pass. The extra point was added to pull the Spartans within 20 points.
 
Chico started its next drive at midfield after recovering an onside kick. Anderson's seven-yard gain on second and 2 brought the Panthers to the Red Bluff 35-yard line. Penalties would plague the Chico offense on this drive. They faced a third and 17, but came up empty as Anderson threw an incomplete pass intended for Andrew Medearis.
 
The Spartans earned a first down at the Panthers' 44-yard line after Billy Barrios caught a six-yard pass. An offsides penalty against Chico on fourth and 3 kept the drive moving as it continued at the 32-yard line. Red Bluff attempted a reverse play on fourth and 15, but Avery was stopped less than a yard short of a first down.
 
Ramirez threw a 50-yard completion to McKenzie with less than 10 minutes left in the game to give the Spartans a first down at the Panthers' 15-yard line. Ramirez lost six yards on second and 8, then threw an incomplete pass intended for Stephan Hampton on the next play. The drive ended when Barrios caught the ball, but was well short of a first down.
 
Red Bluff started its next drive at the Chico 39-yard line after the Panthers were charged with a facemask penalty during Karatekeli's punt. Ramirez proceeded to connect with McKenzie on a touchdown pass with 3:53 to go in the contest. Villalvazo made the extra point to cut the Spartans' deficit to 34-21. Red Bluff added six more points with 48 seconds left in the game when Ronny Soulliere caught Ramirez's pass on fourth and 5. The conversion attempt was no good, so the Spartans trailed by seven points. Chico gained possession on the ensuing kickoff and proceeded to run out the clock.
 
Chico will resume play Friday, Oct. 12 when they face Pleasant Valley in the annual Almond Bowl showdown at University Stadium. The Vikings will serve as the home team and will occupy the west end of the stadium, while the Panthers will take up the east end. The JV game will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity game scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Red Bluff, meanwhile, will be back in action next Friday with a road game at Paradise.