By Ray Hamill — The McKinleyville Panthers got a much-needed win on Saturday afternoon, but it was the manner in which they achieved it that really stood out.

With a new coaching staff and what appears to a much-improved roster, the Panthers ended a 21-game losing streak that had dated back to the end of the 2022 season with a dominating 28-6 victory over visiting Fort Bragg.

The game didn’t start well for the home team and it appeared as if it might be more of the same for a program that was winless in each of the past two seasons.

The Timberwolves came out and marched the length of the field on their opening possession to take a 6-0 lead.

That, however, was the end of their scoring for the day as the Panthers answered emphatically on both sides of the ball, with impressive quarterback Ruger Baxter throwing for three second-quarter touchdowns and adding a TD run in the fourth.

But he was far from the only standout on the day.

“I’m just ecstatic,” first-year McKinleyville head coach Jason Benge said. “(Fort Bragg) marched right down and scored, and from that point forward it was like everything clicked with the boys.

“They put it together and I love the way they responded facing that adversity. These guys kept it together.”

And they did so with some outstanding leadership on the field of play, including from Baxter.

The senior QB connected with receiver Walter Morton on a five-yard TD pass early in the second quarter to open the home team’s account, and the Panthers took a lead they would not relinquish just moments later when Baxter completed a two-point conversion pass to James Fike.

The Panthers would add to their tally with 4:30 remaining in the half when Baxter threw a short pass to Trevor Marsh, who broke free up the middle on a 51-yard scoring play.

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

The touchdown was set up by a big fourth-down conversion earlier in the drive on the Panthers’ version of the tush push, a play they used to good effect.

The Panthers would stretch the lead to 14 with just 15 seconds remaining in the half, when Baxter completed his third TD pass of the quarter, this one to Fike from 15 yards out.

They carried that momentum into the second half, especially on defense, and the visitors had no answer.

Baxter would close out the scoring late in the game when he scored on a QB sneak.

“I’m happy with the way Ruger played,” Benge said. “It was a gutsy performance and he made some good decisions and had some tough runs.”

Several players stood out on defense, including DB Thurman Henderson, who looks poised for a big season.

“He just made several big defensive plays out there and made some huge tackles to stop guys,” Benge said of the senior. “He played really physical.”

Another DB, Brenden Bates, also impressed and did a good job shutting down his side of the field, according to the coach, while junior team captain Braylon Sotelo had a big impact at linebacker.

“Our defense stepped up and made some big plays,” Benge said.

Tougher challenges await this team and there’s still a lot of room for improvement, but the Panthers will deservedly relish this win after two years of struggles.

“I’m just so happy for the McKinleyville community to get this win,” Benge said. 

Next up, the Panthers will host St. Bernard’s on Friday night.

In JV action on Saturday, McKinleyville defeated Fort Bragg 42-6 to make for a great all-around day for the program.