By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa High School football team picked up a huge non-conference win Friday night September 2. P-G defeated Putnam County foe Leipsic, 33-21. 

The Rockets were led by senior running back Ethan “Freight Train” Luginbill’s 28 carries, 181 yards, and three touchdowns; as the Rockets moved to 2-1 on the season.

Hosting their Road 5 rivals from the north, P-G faced an early 6-0 deficit in the first quarter. The Rockets immediately responded on their ensuing possession. Quarterback Carson Meyer connected with receiver Aidan Morris for a 48-yard pass and catch to the eighteen-yard line setting up the score.  Four plays later Meyer again found Morris open, this time in the endzone, for a 5-yard touchdown reception. Kicker Elam Suter split the uprights on the extra point kick to give the Rockets a 7-6 lead with 5:31 left in the first quarter.  

Morris would finish the game leading the way through the air with 112 yards receiving on 4 catches.

Down 14-7 early in quarter number 2, Meyer and Morris again teamed up on a 37-yard pass-and-catch to the ten. Luginbill finished off the drive pounding it in from 3 yards out, and Suter knotted the score at fourteen apiece.

At the seven-minute mark of the second quarter, P-G regained the lead. “Freight Train” Luginbill would not be denied, making quite possibly the play of the game.  Luginbill took the handoff from Meyer, broke several tackles, bounced to the outside, and hurdled one Viking defender on his way down the home sideline for a 43-yard touchdown run. Suter’s kick put them ahead 21-14.  

Receiver Colin Harris caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Meyer with 4:28 remaining until halftime to seize a 27-14 advantage, as P-G went into the locker room still up 27-21.

Following a scoreless 3rd quarter, it was the P-G defense’s turn to shine in the 4th. With Leipsic driving for the potential go-ahead 4th quarter score, Morris made the defensive play of the game intercepting the Leipsic pass attempt in the endzone. Later in the quarter, the P-G defense again stopped the Vikings on 4th down giving the ball back to the Rockets, still holding a 27-21 lead with 4:25 left.  

From there, P-G jumped on and rode the “Freight Train” to close out the game. Luginbill was handed the ball on six straight plays, culminating with a 7-yard touchdown run to seal the win with 1:06 remaining.

Next up, the Rockets (2-1, 0-0 BVC) will host Blanchard Valley Conference foe Arcadia (0-3, 0-1 BVC) for homecoming at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 9.