Focused Panthers dominate Howard, 53-0

photo Brainerd's Marcus McMillan (6) falls on a Brainerd fumble.

On a Friday night filled with rivalry showdowns and potential district championship games, Brainerd viewed the crosstown trek to Howard with a singular purpose.

It was a business trip, and the Panthers certainly took care of theirs.

"This is a big rivalry game that really is the biggest game for the African-American part of the city," Brainerd coach Brian Gwyn said after his team's 53-0 dominating win over Howard. "It's for bragging rights, and we definitely wanted to come out and start fast.

"I want to say how great Coach [Mark] Teague and his team were and how great the fans were. This was a game that had a lot of emotion, but I think everyone played with a lot of class, too."

The sportsmanship was punctuated with a postgame message that included every player and coach from both sides. It was a powerful image after a power performance from a Panthers bunch that was determined from the opening kick.

"I never envisioned that good a start," Gwyn said. "We were very focused from the start and knew what was at stake."

Brainerd's focus was clear from the beginning and was evident across all phases. In a decisive first quarter, the Panthers (2-5, 2-1) overwhelmed Howard (0-6, 0-2), outgaining the hosts 117 yards to minus-1 through the first 12 minutes on the way to a 26-0 lead.

The domination was completed on special teams as the Panthers capitalized on two Howard punting miscues for a quick two-touchdown lead.

"I think we got shook a little bit," Teague said of the Panthers' fast start, "and we have to do a better job as coaches to make sure we fight through that. But give a lot of credit to Brainerd: They came here ready to play."

A bad Howard snap on the first punt attempt put Brainerd in business at the Hustlin' Tigers' 11. Brainerd's Marzjahn Beach blocked Howard's next punt to give his team a short field again, and the Panthers were rolling.

"There was some [trash] talking early, but we kind of stopped that," said Beach, who also caught a 38-yard touchdown pass. "We definitely came to play tonight and played together as a team."

After the fast start, the Panthers continued to dominated field position -- in the decisive first half Brainerd averaged starting at the Tigers' 33; Howard started its possessions on average at its 32.

With a balanced attack that had success with almost everything it tried -- speed sweeps to Marcus Hudson, who scored twice in three carries in the first half, deep throws to Beach or simple power runs to Marcus McMillian or Brian Montgomery -- the Panthers pulled away.

If the early scores came from Howard special-teams mistakes, the Panthers stretched the lead with an impressive offensive balance. Tevin Walker was 3-of-3 for 101 yards and two TDs in the first half and added a 1-yard scoring run. Brainerd averaged more than 12.5 yards per play and generated 200 total yards in a dominating first half.

"We played really good as a team, and it was all about our preparation this week," said Walker, who finished 4-of-4 for 136 yards and three scores. "We're moving up and letting people know who we are and that we're nothing to mess with."

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