By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa High School football team kicked off the 2022 season Thursday evening August 18, under the leadership of 6th year head coach, Matt Hershey. Coming off a 6-4 season where they just missed the playoffs–and with eleven letter-winners returning–P-G is looking to take the next step.

In a rare Thursday night opener, the Rockets traveled to Columbus Grove to take on the Bulldogs in the annual season opening non-conference match-up between the State Route 12 rivals.  

The Rockets got off to a slow start and turnovers plagued them all game, as they dropped the hard-fought battle, 34-23; the third loss in a row to the Bulldogs.

Following two first quarter punts, the Rockets quickly found themselves down by two touchdowns at 14-0 as the first quarter clock expired. The Bulldogs pulled further ahead 20-0 early in the second quarter as they intercepted a P-G pass attempt and returned it for a touchdown; missing the extra point.

The P-G defense finally got the Rockets on the scoreboard with a two-point safety when P-G defender Collin Harris tackled the punter in the endzone following the fumbled snap. Getting the ball right back on offense, the Rockets immediately came to life, marching right down the field, highlighted by senior running back Ethan Luginbill scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:28 left in the half.  P-G kicker Elam Suter nailed the extra point kick, giving the visitors something to cheer about, down just 20-9.  

At the start of the second half, the score was 27-9, but the Rockets took the field like a different team. P-G received the second half kick and promptly drove down the field. Luginbill again found the endzone, this time from 15 yards out, as he took the hand-off and ran straight up the middle breaking a couple tackles. Suter made the extra point kick to pull the Rockets within 27-16.  

Another turnover, their fourth of the game, derailed a deep drive into Bulldog territory. P-G found themselves down 34-16 with 7:46 remaining in the contest.  P-G scored with thirty-five seconds left on the clock– Luginbill’s third touchdown of the game–a two-yard run. Suter finished three-for-three on extra-point kicks.

The Rockets (0-1, 0-0 BVC) will host rival Bluffton in the P-G home opener at 7:30 p.m. on August 26.  Bluffton won the match-up in 2021 in overtime.