BUCKLAND — Tyler Placanico attoned for some first-half miscues in a big way on Friday night.
The Palmer running back provided nearly all of the Panthers’ offense against Mohawk in the game. After a pair of first-half fumbles, Placanico scored three second-half touchdowns and finished the game with 290 rushing yards as the Panthers got past the Warriors, 29-20, on Booster Day at Pollard Field.
The Warriors (1-6) led 8-7 at halftime thanks to their defensive effort that forced three Panther turnovers, including a pair in the red zone. Two of the turnovers were on fumbles by Placanico, including one at the Mohawk 3 at the end of a long run when Warrior defender Cam Lococo knocked the ball from his hands. Placanico was already have a solid night running the ball with 104 first-half yards, but his two fumbles and an interception by Palmer quarterback Jeff Pardo at the Mohawk 5 on the Panthers’ opening drive, was responsible for Palmer’s deficit at the break.
Palmer (3-4) came out of the break and scored two quick touchdowns, as Placanico took the first handoff of the half and went 40 yards that set up his 15-yard touchdown run three plays later to put Palmer up 13-8. Mohawk looked like it was going to answer, as it put together a 10-play drive but quarterback Shawn Davenport had a 15-yard run end with a fumble on the Palmer 24. On the very next play, Placanico raced 76 yards for a touchdown to lift the Panthers to a 21-8 lead.
Mohawk never quit and made things interesting early in the fourth quarter. On the first play of the fourth, Pardo was intercepted by Davenport, who returned it 30 yards to the Palmer 22 and two plays later Ryan Walker carried the ball in from 13 yards out. The 2-point try failed but Mohawk was back within a score at 21-14. Palmer answered and it was Placanico who did much of the lifting, as he carried the ball eight times on a 10-play drive and scored from 5 yards out with 2:50 to play to put Palmer up two scores. The touchdown proved to be huge as Mohawk drove the field and Davenport his Jordan Grenier with a 10-yard touchdown pass with 29.2 seconds to play to settle the final score at 29-20.
Palmer took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter when Placanico ran in from 2 yards out, but Mohawk answered with 2:06 to play in the first half as Grenier ran in a 3-yard touchdown and then carried in the conversion to put Mohawk up 8-7 at the half.
Davenport led the Mohawk rushing attack as his quarterback sneaks were very effective all night. The sophomore quarterback finished with 80 yards on 10 carries, and was also 2-for-8 passing for 24 yards and a touchdown. Evan Shippee finished with 11 carries for 57 yards in the loss, and Grenier carried the ball eight times for 41 yards. Walker finished with 28 yards on seven hauls.
Mohawk will find out next week’s non-qualifier opponent Sunday morning.