W O W.

There should have been a medical crew parked at every entrance to Moody Stadium so they could check everyone out to make sure that their hearts were strong enough to withstand the excitement of this game. It was unbelievable.

Before we get to the pictures, I'd like to mention that if any of the Panthers fans (or even Bracken fans) would like a digital copy of any of these pictures from the game, you can get them at http://kbrackett.com/new/events/ The game pics will be there in a day or two. They just cost $1.50 each, and all of the proceeds are going to support a very special children's ministry in Ghana, Africa. Please go to Kimberli Brackett's website to get the pics rather than copying them from this thread. Neither she nor I are making anything from the pictures, but we would like to benefit the ministry in Ghana. Thanks. :)

Now the game...

Grady Achilles went right to work, but the Panthers defense appeared to be ready for him. I think the game we played against Ira was perfect preparation for Bracken. Early on in the Ira game, the Panthers D was over-running the ball into the backfield too far and leaving holes for cutbacks. Yesterday against Bracken, they were holding good containment.








There were a couple of turnovers on both sides. First one came here.

Panthers' ball...




The wind was a definite factor for both teams. It really made the passing games tough. Abilene had the NW wind at their backs in the 1st quarter. Things were a little bit easier going south, but there were lots of balls that sailed over receivers' heads, and almost every pass was a curve ball. Personally, I didn't expect the wind to be blowing that hard in Moody, and it wasn't during pregame warm-ups. It was blowing 20-30 then (bad enough). But just before game time, the wind picked up. All during the game it was blowing 30-40mph with some stronger gusts every now and then.

ACHS managed to complete a few short passes and also mixed in a few running plays to move down the field. Dos Santos took it in from the 8.






PAT kick missed.




#3 back to work.






This was either a fumble or an incomplete pass before turning over on downs. I can't remember.

ACHS ball again.



I didn't get a pic of how this unsuccessful drive ended, and I can't remember if it was a turnover or a punt. I think it was a punt.

Achilles later scored on a great 45-yard run down the right sideline. That kid is fast.



Kick missed.



Abilene has a #3 too (George). He had a good run after the catch on the next drive that lead to the next score.














Beltran 25-yd pass to Hernandez for the TD.



That is one MAJOR crown in the middle of that field. It did keep it from being muddy and wet after the rains overnight before the game though.





Kick good this time.

Panthers were able to contain the Achilles boys on the next drive.






On a side note, they sent the right crew of refs and chain gang for this game in the wind. Not a skinny guy in the bunch. LOL

They had to hold the ball every time they placed it to keep it from blowing away. That caused some delays in the back judge blowing the whistle to start play before every play. He had to wait for the other ref to get set once the center could get hold of the ball. I don't know how many times both teams snapped the ball before he finally blew the whistle. They'd whistle the plays dead and reset the ball. The teams were having to stay set forever waiting for the whistle, but the refs were doing the best they could in that doggone wind.




End of 1st Q.




Bracken still rolling, but didn't get the score this time.










Panthers' ball again, but no score.




Bracken ball...

Panthers get the stop and the ball.





12-yd Beltran pass to George for the TD.





Kick blocked. Panthers D held, and that is where the first half ended up.




Third quarter, Panthers get the ball and the wind in the 3rd Q.



Fernandez catches the ball and goes 18 yards for the score.







Missed the kick.

At this point, it was starting to feel a little bit comfortable on the Abilene side, BUT.......

Grady took a handoff around the right side, and as I was zoomed in on him with my camera I saw him put his head down and shift into another gear. I knew he was gone as soon as I saw that. Very impressive. Still pics don't do it any justice. He went 58 yards to the endzone.






Kick was missed.




That run brought a spark back to the Bracken team. Abilene was driving on the next possession, but the Bracken defense tightened up.





And then this....



I missed getting any pics of the next TD run by Achilles. Again, I saw it coming through the camera, and I guess I just looked up off the camera to watch (in horror). LOL

Man, you could just see it. He was GOING to score. And he did.

Kick was successful this time.




It was NOT comfortable on the Abilene side anymore. Panthers had the ball and were driving.










Almost a great catch, but the Bracken kid got a hand in there to break it up. Abilene turned it over on downs.




Bracken driving again. Abilene defense tightened back up, and that hole on the right side somewhere wasn't there anymore.

Abilene held and got the ball back.





Bracken defense held.




Bracken's ball again.









End of 3rd Q. The 3rd quarter was rough for Abilene. They were going into the wind, and it was brutal on the passing game. Most of all, it was brutal on the snaps to the QB in the shotgun. Snapping with the wind after snapping into the wind before proved to be tough. It had to have been tough. Snapping into the wind before required some extra effort to get the ball to the QB. But then snapping with the wind, that extra something on the ball was too much. Several snaps went over the head of the upback and the QB.




Abilene held and got the ball back. The Panthers began to run the ball more. (finally)





















Panthers moved down the field, and Dos Santos caught a 1-yd pass from Beltran for the score.



PAT missed.

Bracken's ball again. Defense was holding well.










But then Eli Achilles ran one around the left side, breaking tackles, for a 54-yd TD.





Kick was good.




WAY too close for comfort on the Abilene side now, for sure. Lots of time left on the clock.

Panthers need to eat up the clock and score.





And then Massaquoi took it into the end zone!




BUT......a block in the back away from the play in the middle of the field negated the TD. Play still resulted in a 1st down, so the drive continued.









Panthers took the ball down the field. Bracken was out of timeouts. With about 41 seconds left after a tackle in bounds, the clock stopped for some reason. After at least 10 seconds, the refs caught it and signaled to start the clock again. That almost made the difference in the game.

Next play was unsuccessful for the Panthers, and it brought up 4th & 11 with 17 seconds left.




Beltran took the snap and scrambled, looking for an open receiver. Bracken had everybody covered. Beltran continued to scramble way back deep in the backfield. He got free enough to throw the ball over a receiver's head out of bounds, but there were still 4 seconds left on the clock.

Bracken took over on downs.

Bracken got a block that prevented a sack in the backfield, and that bought enough time for Grady Achilles to break wide open way downfield on the left side.




With time expired on the clock, Eli heaved the ball into the brutal wind, and it found its mark. I looked up from my camera in disbelief. I saw Grady turn around and jump up to catch the ball with a wide open sideline down the left side. The closest Abilene defender was in the middle of the field. My heart sank. But Grady had his back turned to the endzone and the defense behind him. His instinct to cut back took over, I guess. He ran back across the middle of the field. I had a little hope again. But then he broke a couple of tackle attempts and appeared to have a clear path to the endzone down the right side line.

I couldn't believe we were about to lose the game like this. It was just sickening.

But then, out of nowhere, Beltran came streaking in from the middle of the field. He had a perfect angle, and he was able to knock Achilles out of bounds on the 4 yard line to save the game for the Panthers.

W O W.








This game was EPIC. I can't say enough good about the Bracken team. Just an unbelievably talented team with a never-say-die winning attitude. And the same can be said for the Panthers as well. Both groups of players and coaches represented their schools extremely well before, during, and after the game. And what a game it was.

Very Very nice pics and posts Shane!!! Who do you think is faster, kid from Ira or kid from Bracken? Also is the Bracken kid a senior? Ira kid is a junior. Amazing post again Shane thank you very impressive.

You'd have to put a stop watch on them and measure in hundredths of seconds to tell which kid is the fastest. It's hard to say. I'm just glad that the Achilles kid had to run into the wind on that last play instead of with the wind like he did in the 3rd quarter.

Oh, and I hope he's a senior! LOL

sounds like a great game, wish I was able to make it...

FYI-if I remember right #6 is a senior #3 is a junior for Bracken

I'm pretty sure #6 is the younger brother.

yes I think your right...

Thanks for the great pics and story! I'm glad they are moving the playoffs away from Moody, that place is a wind tunnel, it really ends up favoring the running teams. I have been down there for several playoff games and at most games the wind is 30 to 40 miles per hour, its hard to even make a sweep pitch at times much less a field goal, hope Zephyr field works out better.

Thanks.

Can't do anything about the weather in any stadium. Moody has a nice facility, but I do like Zephyr's better. It's also closer to home for me, so that's a plus. I just hope we're fortunate enough to get to play in the finals again. There's a LOT of football to be played between now and then, and the competition will be just as tough this year, if not tougher.