E-P crashes Hall’s Homecoming Party

Led by their workhorse fullback Zach Inskeep with 201 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 28 carries, the Panthers scored early and often in their 56-26 victory over the Red Devils at Richard Nesti Field on Friday night.

The two teams matched scores at 14 apiece early in the second quarter but the Panthers scored 22 unaswered points to close out the half and never looked back.

Big scoring plays were a problem for the Hall defense as they allowed three touchdowns that were 47 yards or more in the final 5:37 of the first half.

“That is the story of our season,” said Hall coach Randy Tieman. “We don’t seem to be in the right spots, we don’t read our assignments and we’re not getting there.”

Hall kept pace with the Panthers in the first quarter as the team’s two quarterbacks - Miguel Villareal for Hall and Ethan Howard for EP - traded six-yard touchdown runs.

With the Red Devils ahead 7-6, Inskeep scored his first touchdown run from six yards out to cap a 13 play drive with 7:40 remaining in the half.

Hall would quickly answer on special teams as Landon Piccatto took the kickoff 70 yards for a score that tied the game at 14 apiece.

However, the Panthers lit up the scoreboard with three more touchdowns in the first half to put the game out of reach. Nick Williams had a 57-yard score on a toss to left side of the field and a 49-yard touchdown reception on a play action pass up the middle. Inskeep then capitalized on a Hall fumble with a 47-yard run with 24 seconds remaining in the half.

The Panthers amassed 460 yards total on the ground as they established the run early with Inskeep. The bruising fullback had 139 yards in the first half alone.

“That kid runs the ball hard,” said Tieman. “He’s a big kid and we had a lot of problems taking him down. He’s probably the best fullback we’ve seen all year.”