The Panthers opened the game in dramatic fashion as QB Naamon Archer rolled out to his right and lofted a pass over the Cavalier defense to WR Frank Ulrich. Cavalier Safety Chris Potts made a touchdown saving tackle but the Panther offense still managed to cross mid-field on their first play of the game. The Cavalier defense stiffened from there and forced the Panthers to punt. Punter Jake Barr shanked a short punt that went out at the Cavalier 24. The Panthers were penalized on the play and rather than take the short punt the Cavaliers surprisingly decided to make the Panthers move back 5 yards and punt again. The Cavalier gamble appeared to fail as Barr boomed 45 yarder that pushed Cavalier returner Bryan Hooper back to his 8. Hooper broke left and then slipped and fell as he reversed direction. He got up and headed up the middle and was quickly nailed at the 17 by a couple of Panthers (above). Somehow he bounced off the would-be tacklers and then outraced everyone the final 83 yards (right).

The Panthers answered with a 8 play - 63 yard scoring drive, the key play being a 25 yard completion from Archer to Bryan Strader on 3rd an 8 from the Cavalier 37. RB Ty Williams carried 4 times for 35 yards on the drive, including scoring from 2 yards out. Cav DT Don Orton demonstrated excellent technique in swimming over the O-line and wrapping up Williams in the backfield (left), but Williams just powered through the tackle and then twisted out of safety Orlando Johnson's tackle attempt at the one (right) and walked into the endzone.

A short kickoff set up the Cavaliers near midfield. After a couple of motion penalties and short passes, they gave the ball back to the Panthers on a fumbled snap that was covered by LB Daniel Salas. The Panthers needed just two plays to capitalize on the mistake with RB Kalani Matanza zig-zagging his way into the endzone from 29 yards out as the first quarter ended.

The teams exchanged punts throughout the 2nd quarter. A short Cavalier punt and 27 yard return by Marvin Bronson gave the Panthers a 1st down at the Cavalier 30 as the 2:00 minute warning approached. Archer hit Matanza for 16 yards and then lofted a perfect fade to Ulrich to put the Panthers up 21-7.

A 30 yard kickoff return by Hooper set up the Cavaliers offense near midfield. The Cavs tried to mount a quick drive but QB Jimmy Williams was sacked by DE Scott Dizmang on 4th and 1. Aided by a 5 yard penalty on the Cavs, the Panthers could only move the ball as far as the Cav 35. Jake Barr's 52 yard FG attempt had plenty of distance but just missed to the left as time ran out in the first half.

The 1st half was not as close as the 21-7 score indicated. The Panthers outgained the Cavaliers 174 - 37 and had 8 first downs to the Cavs 2.

The Cavalier offense opened up the 2nd half on fire. After completing just 2 of 7 passes in the first half, QB Jimmy Williams was perfect on 5 attempts for 74 yards as the Cavs made it look easy on a 7 play - 71 yard scoring drive. Williams hit a well covered Bryan Hooper who outjumped the defender in the endzone (left). The key play on the drive came on 3rd on 13 when Williams lofted a 34 yard prayer down the left sideline to Hooper.

The Panthers could only manage 1 first down on their ensuing possession and then 3 straight Jason Pauker incompletions brought up 4th and 10. The last pass was right down the middle to safety Orlando Johnson, but CB Jeremy Nelson, unaware that Johnson was in perfect position for the interception, knocked the ball away (right).

Starting at their own 19, the Cavs repeatedly rammed the ball down the heart of the Panther defense. FB Richard Cranford and RB Ron Parker combined on 7 carries for 50 yards as the Cavs moved the ball down to the Panther 21. On 3rd on 1 Parker was stuffed for no gain by DL Stan Standifer and LB Ray Sullivan. On 4th and 1 Williams faked a handoff to Cranford and then rolled left and tried to hit Hooper on the deep out but CB Bryan Strader knocked the ball away (right). After being outgained 174 - 37 in the first half, the Cavaliers turned the tables and outgained the Panthers 131 - 14 in the 3rd quarter.

The defensive stop swing the momentum back to the Panthers and their offense finally got on track as the 4th quarter started. They went on a 7 play - 79 yard drive with Ty Williams sweeping left from 13 yards out for the score (left). Williams and Matanza accounted for 55 yards on 6 carries during the drive.

Ahead 28 - 14 the Panthers tried to suprise the Cavaliers with an onside kick but it was easily handled by FB Dan Martin. The Cavaliers took advantage of the good field position and needed just 7 plays to cover the 48 yards with QB Jimmy Williams sneaking in from 1 yard out (right). Does the ref serve any purpose other than to get in the way of good pictures?

Trailing by 7 the Cavs tried on onside kick of their own. It went right between the legs of one Panther before being covered by DB Jason Ford - just ahead of a trio of Cavaliers. Three plays later QB Brandon Victor hit WR Frank Ulrich with a 41 yard scoring pass putting the Panthers up 35-21.

On the kickoff Panther CB Cliff Green knocked the ball away from Cavalier returner Bryan Hooper. Green recovered the fumble setting up the Panther offense at the Cavs 25. A Williams sweep advanced the ball down to the 13. Then on 1st down QB Victor missed getting the handoff to the RB so he took off up the middle, bounced off the MLB and dove into the endzone with 4:30 left in the game (right).

Hooper atoned for his fumble by returning the next kickoff 75 yards straight up the middle. Three plays later QB Steve Arnett underthrew a fade in the endzone and it was intercepted by Bryan Strader. Two personal fouls against the Cavs on Strader's return moved to ball out to the 43. On first down QB Jason Pauker, having watched the other two Panther QBs successfully hit Ulrich on deep passes, tried his luck at throwing the bomb. He underthrew the pass and Cavalier safety Chris Potts intercepted it on the dead run and went untouched 60 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.

The Pathers narrowly recovered another Cavalier onside kick giving them a first down at the Cavs 45. Runs of 30 and 6 yards by Williams and Matanza moved the ball down to the 9 and then the Panther coaching staff gave FB Damon Ufter and DL Justin Messman chances to bang it in but the Cavalier defense held tough as time expired.

Rushing: attempts-yards-TDs (long)
Panthers: Ty Williams 18-128-2 (30), Kalani Matanza 9-70-1 (29), Brandon Victor 1-13-1, Damon Uftner 2-5 (8), Dara Donalde 1-4, Justin Messman 1- -1
Cavaliers: Ron Parker 14-41 (11), Richard Cranford 5-38 (13), Jimmy Williams 4-12-1 (11)

Passing: completions-attempts-interceptions-yards-TDs
Panthers: Naamon Archer 6-9-0-102-1, Brandon Victor 1-1-0-41-1, Jason Pauker 1-6-1-19-0
Cavaliers: Jimmy Williams 10-19-0-125-1, Steve Arnett 0-1-1-0-0

Receiving: catches-yards-TDs (long)
Panthers: Frank Ulrich 5-102-2 (41), Bryan Strader 1-25, Marvin Bronson 1-19, Kalani Matanza 1-16
Cavaliers: Rikki Reid 4-34 (11), Bryan Hooper 2-43-1 (44), Steve Arnett 2-25 (13), Jake Winslow 2-13 (9)