Washington Panthers suffered a tough 34-18 loss to the East St. Louis Flyers in a state semifinal game at Babcook Field in Washington. The Panthers made a valiant effort, scoring twice in a 60-second stretch in the fourth quarter to narrow the gap, but ultimately fell short against the defending state champions.
Backup quarterback Masyn Burke and running back Kainon McQueary played crucial roles in engineering the Panthers’ scoring drives, stepping up when starting quarterback Tyler Humphrey was sidelined with an injury.
The loss marks the end of an era for coach Darrell Crouch, concluding his 19-year career with a record 156 victories – the most in Washington history.
Moving forward, the Flyers will face Cary-Grove in the Class 6A championship game at Illinois State University in Normal.
Despite the Panthers’ last-ditch effort that ultimately ended in a fumble, the Washington fans showed their support with a standing ovation as the team left the field.
Flyers quarterback Robert Battle’s long touchdown run in the final minutes sealed the game, thwarting Washington’s momentum.
Throughout the game, both teams showcased their spirit with their bands performing and unique team uniforms, creating an electrifying atmosphere at Babcook Field.
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