After a grueling two-hour-long delay due to the weather, one would expect hopes to be dimmed and expectations to be low in the Pembroke Pines Charter Jaguars Football Team locker room, yet that was not the case.
The Jaguars were hyped and ready to fight. As the entry line got more and more packed, students from PPCHS were bustling, cutting each other in line, and buzzing in anticipation before the thrilling football game ahead of them.
On Friday, August 29, The Jaguars faced off against Coral Springs Charter Panthers Football at their home opener for one of their first non-league matches of the season. The bleachers were almost completely filled with PPCHS students for a classic Friday Night Lights experience.
The game started as a battle between the defenses, as the score was tied 0-0 for the whole first quarter.
However, in the second quarter, the momentum shifted, as The Panthers attempted a punt from the end zone, yet a long snap sailed over the punter’s head. The ball flew out of the back of the end zone, handing The Jaguars a lead with the first two points of the night and possession of the ball once again.
This play was a huge boost for The Jaguars, as it allowed them to take over and capitalize on it. Junior Quarterback Trenton Beesing ran for a 20-yard rushing touchdown with only a few minutes remaining in the quarter, now making the score 8–0.
After the first touchdown, PPCHS student, Axel DeLaVega, commented that “after the first quarter, I was honestly doubting how this game would go. However, that touchdown clearly got the team and the whole student section pretty hyped. Hopefully, we can keep it up.”
Hopes were high that the Jaguars would carry that lead into halftime, yet the Panthers persevered. With five seconds left in the second quarter, they lined up for a 30-yard field goal. The kick was deflected by a Jaguars defender and, to many fans’ surprise, it went in the goal. Making the score 8–3 at halftime.
The third quarter, similarly to the first, remained scoreless, both defenses unable to back down. However, late in the fourth, the Panthers leaped ahead with a touchdown and a successful extra point, making the score 10–8 with just about a minute left on the clock.
The Jaguars, sweating with anxiety and exhaustion, needed to score a field goal or touchdown in one minute. Yet, the offense could not convert on a 4th down, leading to a loss of the ball, and ultimately, the game.
Sophomore Kicker, Ryan Mackie, though restricted to the sidelines due to a minor injury, was able to study this game and help motivate his teammates around him. “Obviously, it’s hard not being able to play and having to watch from the sidelines, but seeing my team battle and give it their all to stay in the game made it worth it,” Mackie commented.
This loss, though a tough pill to swallow, should hopefully not be a discouragement, but instead a reminder to The Jaguars to focus on discipline, drive, and fight for the game. The Jaguars now hold a record of 1-1 and luckily, have the whole season ahead of them to prove how much hustle and heart they truly have.
