LANSFORD — When the season started, junior Danny Gilberry was slated to be Panther Valley’s starting quarterback.
After thinking it over, head coach Matt Davis asked if Gilberry would move back to receiver. Without batting an eye, the captain said he would if it betters the team.
That moved paid off Friday night when Gilberry caught two big touchdown passes to help the Panthers defeat Minersville 28-24 in an Anthracite Football League contest.
“I can’t say enough about the unselfishness of Danny,” Davis said. “We have some other good receivers, but he is our go-to guy and it showed tonight.”
Panther Valley (2-7, 1-7 AFL) jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead after one quarter.
Anthony Vavra plunged in from 1 yard out for the first score. That came after a Josue Rodriguez interception set the Panthers up.
Later in the quarter, quarterback Hunter Kennedy found Nate Miller for a 5-yard touchdown pass.
Minersville (0-9, 0-9) got on the board to start the second quarter.
Kei’dre Taylor scored from 5 yards out for the touchdown. Taylor had a good game for the Miners as he operated from the running back and quarterback positions. The sophomore rushed for 154 yards and threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to keep the game close.
After Taylor’s touchdown made it a one-score game, the Kennedy-to-Gilberry connection struck for the first time.
On a fourth-and-23 from the Minersville 26-yard line, Gilberry got behind the defense and Kennedy hit him in stride for the score to make it 21-7.
Minersville closed the first half with a flurry, as rushing touchdowns by Jon McBreen and Steele Fekette from 5 and 4 yards, respectively, made the score 21-18 at halftime.
Panther Valley then went to the Kennedy-to-Gilberry connection again to put the game away.
This time it was a second-and-6 from the Miners 22-yard line. In almost the exact same play, Kennedy floated the ball up toward the end zone and Gilberry caught it and tiptoed inside the pylon for the touchdown. Gilberry caught just three passes on the night, but they went for 73 yards and the two scores.
Kennedy finished the night 7-of-13 passing for 90 yards and the three scores.
The win was the first league win of the year for the Panthers and second straight overall, sending their seniors out with a win in their last home game.
“It doesn’t matter what the records are when we play Minersville, we know it is going to be a tough game,” Davis said. “I couldn’t be happier for these seniors.”
Game Summary
Min (0-9, 0-9) 0 18 0 6 — 24
PV (2-7, 1-7) 14 7 0 7 — 28
PV — Vavra 1 run (Morgans kick)
PV — Miller 5 pass from H. Kennedy (Morgans kick)
M — Taylor 4 run (kick failed)
PV — Gilberry 26 pass from H. Kennedy (Morgans kick)
M — McBreen 5 run (pass failed)
M — Fekette 4 run (pass failed)
PV — Gilberry 22 pass from H. Kennedy (Morgans kick)
M — Stephen 10 pass from Taylor (run failed)
Min PV
First Downs 12 17
Rushes-Yards 39-212 38-210
Passes 4-12-2 7-13-1
Passing Yards 66 90
Total Yards 278 300
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties 10-83 1-10
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Minersville — Taylor 23-154, Griffiths 4-18, Fekette 4-17, Beach 2-11, McBreen 5-10, Miklesavage 1-2. Panther Valley — Figueroa 12-74, Vavra 11-55, H. Kennedy 10-33, Hafer 2-32, Gilberry 3-16.
PASSING: Minersville — McBreen 3-7-1, 56; Taylor 1-5-1, 10. Panther Valley — H. Kennedy 7-13-1, 90.
RECEIVING: Minersville — Stoppie 1-39, Fekette 1-16, Stephen 1-10, Taylor 1-1. Panther Valley — Gilberry 3-73, Vavra 2-9, Miller 1-5, Figueroa 1-3.
INTERCEPTIONS: Minersville — Stephen. Panther Valley — Rodriguez, Miller