Bishop Brossart held off Ludlow Friday night, 10-9, sacking Panthers quarterback Jaxson Rice as time ran out, a fitting end to a night that was heavy on defense and light on points.
The first quarter nearly passed with zeros remaining on the scoreboard until Mustang kicker Tyler Smith’s 29-yard field goal with under a minute left put Brossart ahead, 3-0.
Rice seemed poised to bring the Panthers back before the break after his 41-yard scramble inside the Mustang 40. However, on the ensuing play, Rice dropped the snap and booted the football across the line of scrimmage to Brossart. Austin Schadler then took a knee to run out the first half clock.
Ludlow was unable to get any momentum going to begin the third but on its next possession, Andrew Kendall’s five-yard touchdown reception capped a 14-play drive to get the Panthers on the board. With 1:34 left, Ludlow led, 7-3.
Beginning with the ball near its own 40, the Mustangs’ drive only gained five yards on an Evan Orth run. Then, Schadler scrambled out of the pocket to his right on third down, but Nathan Schalk got behind a Panthers defensive back and Schadler lofted a pass down the right sideline to the open receiver, and he completed the 54-yard catch-and-run for the first Brossart points since the end of the first quarter.
Brossart led 10-7, as the third came to an end.
Midway through the final quarter, a Mustang special teams mistake gave the Panthers two points after the snap sailed over the punter’s head as he stood in his own end zone. Now down by one, 10-9, and with the ball, Ludlow could not capitalize on the opportunity, only moving the ball 14 yards.
Ludlow falls to 2-3 on the season, losing for the third straight time. The Panthers travel to 5-0 Mason County next Friday to face former Newport Head Coach Joe Wynn.
Brossart (4-2) stays on the road next Friday, when it takes on fellow district five opponent, 6-0 Nicholas County.