Just when things seem to be going the wrong way for Panther football again this year, they show the historical team spirit that has made Panther red a proud tradition.

Friday night the Snohomish Panthers began their home stand against Mount Vernon with a strong defensive effort holding back the Bulldogs running game. Snohomish struck first with a 27-yard field goal halfway through the first quarter to put them up by 3 and again with a 10 yard run by Connor Brown to put them up 10-0 heading into the second quarter.

A missed assignment or an ill-fated rushing attempt by the Panthers defense let Tristan Brock loose to rip off a 74-yard touchdown run for the Bulldogs. Later in that same quarter the Panthers defense faltered again letting Brock, scamper another 38-yards for touchdown number two.

Snohomish went into their locker-room down by four searching for an answer to Tristan Brock. Somewhere during the homecoming halftime celebration, the Panthers found the answer. Snohomish did not allow any more trips across the chalk in the second half.

Late in the third quarter freshman Keegan Stich took one across the line to give the lead back to Snohomish putting them up by three going into the fourth, 17-14.

Mount Vernon was not finished sending the leather through the goal posts late in the game to tie the score and sending the contest into overtime.

The Bulldogs won the toss and elected to go on offense first and seven plays later, they found themselves fourth and one, goal to go.

This is where Snohomish showed their true grit! They stopped Mount Venom’s touchdown running attempt butt-cold in mid-air, literally. Snohomish’s overtime offensive attempt to win ended in success in only three plays when Keegan Stich once again found the promise land on the other side of the Bulldogs defense.
Snohomish Panthers win in OT 23-17 over the Mount Vernon Bulldogs.

First win of the year was cause for great celebration on the Snohomish sidelines but in true sportsmanship, the Mount Vernon Bulldog players and cheerleaders entered the stadium bleachers and began to clean the trash left behind by the fans.

This is something that this sports reporter has not seen before!

We asked several of the Mount Vernon students about their actions; they said that they clean up their host bleachers win or lose and before the change out of their uniforms. The startling thing that caused pause in many that witnessed it including Snohomish A.D. Mark Perry.

“That is a classy thing they are doing” Perry said. “It shows true sportsmanship of a quality program” he said.
The Mount Vernon students stayed until the stands were clear of trash and then found their way to the busses.