With the game tied at 13 and the final seconds ticking away, the CD Panthers’ 12U football team appeared to be on the verge of scoring the winning touchdown against the Renton Rangers. Instead, a fumble at the goal line nearly brought their hopes of winning on the final drive to an end.
What followed was a remarkable sequence of events that saw the ball change hands twice before CD’s Nahtey Holland recovered it in the end zone for a game-winning touchdown, giving the Panthers a dramatic 20-13 victory over Renton Saturday at Judkins Park.
The game, played on Teacher Appreciation Day, was the final regular-season contest for both teams. CD entered with a 5-2 record, while Renton came in at 4-3, with both teams looking to strengthen their playoff positioning.
The matchup featured strong defensive performances, explosive passing plays and several momentum-changing turnovers before coming down to the final play.
The Panthers opened the game on offense but struggled to establish their running game against an aggressive Renton defense.
CD’s Derrick Whitner was held to minimal gains on the Panthers’ opening possessions, while teammate Jenry Castillo was stopped for a 3-yard loss before breaking loose for a 5-yard gain later in the quarter.
Renton’s defense received early contributions from Billy King Ace Meneese, who recorded two solo tackles, along with Jordyn Chanthavong and Marvelous Green, who helped limit the Panthers’ rushing attack.
CD’s offense eventually suffered a fumble that Renton recovered, giving the Rangers an opportunity to establish control.
Renton responded with a promising drive behind Jack Pierce, who broke loose for an 11-yard run, while Meneese and Green added short gains to keep the Rangers’ offense moving.
However, CD’s defense tightened, with Romond Weddle stopping Renton’s Marche DeBurle for a 3-yard loss. A penalty against the Panthers helped Renton continue its possession into the second quarter.
With the game still scoreless, the Rangers advanced into CD territory but were unable to capitalize. Pierce was stopped for a 1-yard loss by Castillo, and Renton quarterback Aaron Strand threw an incomplete pass on third down.
Facing fourth-and-9, Strand gained four yards on the ground, but the Panthers held and took possession at their own 25-yard line.
CD then put together one of its strongest offensive possessions of the first half.
Weddle opened the drive with a 10-yard run, followed by a 4-yard gain from Whitner. Castillo added a 12-yard run before the Panthers encountered resistance from Renton’s defense.
A 3-yard loss by Castillo and a 5-yard run from CD’s Pryce “Speedy” Young left the Panthers facing third-and-long.
Weddle completed a short pass to Whitner for two yards, bringing up fourth down.
With 1:16 remaining in the first half, Weddle connected with Young on a 32-yard touchdown pass, giving the Panthers a 6-0 lead.
Renton attempted to respond before halftime, but Pierce was stopped for a 2-yard loss and Chanthavong lost three yards on a tackle by Weddle, leaving CD ahead 6-0 at the break.
The Rangers came out of halftime determined to even the score.
After Strand’s first-down pass fell incomplete, Renton’s Green gained five yards on the ground to set up third-and-5 from the Rangers’ 33-yard line.
On the next play, Strand connected with teammate Kevyn Ruth, who turned the completion into a 67-yard touchdown. The long scoring play tied the game at 6 and gave Renton new momentum.
CD answered with a promising drive of its own.
Young opened the Panthers’ possession with a 13-yard run, and Weddle completed a short pass to Whitner. Whitner then gained five yards on the ground before Weddle added another two yards.
However, a false-start penalty pushed the Panthers backward, leaving them facing fourth-and-10.
Renton’s defense came up with a crucial stop when Strand sacked Weddle for a 7-yard loss, turning the ball over to the Rangers.
Renton attempted to capitalize, with Strand overcoming an initial 4-yard loss by breaking loose for runs of 13 and four yards to keep the possession alive.
The Rangers carried the drive into the fourth quarter, but the Panthers’ defense was about to deliver one of the game’s biggest plays.
After Renton’s Pierce was stopped for no gain, Strand dropped back to pass on second down. Young intercepted the ball and raced 65 yards for a touchdown, putting CD back in front.
The Panthers converted the extra point to take a 13-6 lead.
Darell “Rell” Jones, a coach with the CD Panthers 12U team, praised Young for his ability to make plays in critical situations.
“He’s fast. He’s quick. He’s agile,” Jones said. “He caught that pick to put us up.”
Renton refused to go away.
Ruth sparked the Rangers’ next possession with a 10-yard run, and Pierce followed with an 8-yard gain. Ruth added four yards before breaking loose for a 23-yard run that helped move Renton deep into Panthers territory.
With 2:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, Strand connected with Green on a 13-yard touchdown pass.
The Rangers converted the extra point to tie the game at 13, setting up a dramatic finish.
With the outcome hanging in the balance, CD took possession and began moving the ball downfield.
Young opened the Panthers’ drive with an 8-yard run, and Whitner followed with gains of two and five yards. Weddle then broke loose for a 20-yard run, moving CD into scoring position.
Holland added a 1-yard run before Castillo connected with Young on a 24-yard pass that brought the Panthers to Renton’s 4-yard line.
With time running out, CD had an opportunity to win the game.
On first-and-goal, Whitner took the handoff and charged toward the end zone. As he was tackled at the goal line, the ball came loose and rolled into the end zone.
A Renton defender recovered the fumble, seemingly ending CD’s scoring opportunity. But rather than remaining down in the end zone, the defender attempted to run the ball out.
Weddle caught up with the defender and stripped the ball loose. Holland reacted immediately, diving on the loose ball in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.
In a matter of seconds, Renton had gone from recovering a fumble that appeared to preserve a tie to watching CD celebrate the winning touchdown. The remarkable finish gave the Panthers a 20-13 victory after a game in which neither team had led by more than seven points.
Jones credited his players for their preparation and determination to finish the regular season with a victory.
“They’ve been working really hard this week. Like, really, really hard because they wanted to make sure they finished out the season with a dub,” Jones said. “They worked hard way, way harder than I done seen them all year. So they wanted it bad and I’m glad they went and got it.”
Jones also praised Young for his contributions throughout the season.
“He always been a star player ever since I got here,” Jones said. “He’s a great guy. I love him.”
Young was one of CD’s leading offensive contributors, finishing with 26 rushing yards on three carries and two receptions for 56 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown catch. He also returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown.
Weddle contributed 32 yards on four rushing attempts, completed three of four passes for 33 yards and made several important defensive stops, including the forced fumble that set up the winning touchdown.
Castillo added 11 rushing yards and completed a 24-yard pass to Young, while Whitner contributed 17 rushing yards on seven recorded carries before the final play.
For Renton, Strand threw touchdown passes of 67 and 13 yards, finishing with 80 passing yards. Ruth contributed a 67-yard touchdown reception and 37 rushing yards, while Green caught the 13-yard touchdown pass that tied the game in the fourth quarter.
Despite the difficult ending, Renton head coach Bill Meneese praised his players for their effort and sportsmanship.
“Congratulations to CD Panthers. Congratulations to our kids. We’re keeping our heads high,” Meneese said.
Meneese credited his team’s defensive effort and said the Rangers showed improvement after halftime.
“If we could have stepped it up in the 1st half and turned on, turn that on, how we played in the 2nd half, we would have been solid,” Meneese said.
Asked about the decision to attempt a return following the final fumble recovery, Meneese acknowledged that young players sometimes make decisions in the excitement of the moment.
“They’re young, so, you know, in a hit of the moment, he’s going to do what he think is best. I’m not mad at him about it,” Meneese said.
For the Panthers, the victory capped a hard-fought regular-season finale with a finish that neither team, nor the spectators at Judkins Park, will soon forget.
Game Stats
CD Panthers
Passing: Romond Weddle, 3 of 4, 33 yards, 1 TD; Jenry Castillo, 1 of 1, 24 yards.
Rushing: Romond Weddle, 4 carries, 32 yards; Pryce “Speedy” Young, 3 carries, 26 yards; Derrick Whitner, 7 recorded carries, 17 yards; Jenry Castillo, 4 carries, 11 yards; Amrico Flight, 1 carry, 1 yard; Nahtey Holland, 1 carry, 1 yard.
Receiving: Pryce “Speedy” Young, 2 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD; Derrick Whitner, 2 receptions, 1 yard.
Defense: Pryce “Speedy” Young, 1 interception, 65-yard interception return TD; Romond Weddle, 4 recorded tackles, 1 forced fumble; Nahtey Holland, game-winning fumble recovery TD; Derrick Whitner, 1 recorded tackle; Jenry Castillo, 1 recorded tackle.
Renton Rangers
Passing: Aaron Strand, 2 of 5, 80 yards, 2 TDs, 1 interception; Kevyn Ruth, 0 of 1.
Rushing: Kevyn Ruth, 3 carries, 37 yards; Aaron Strand, 4 carries, 17 yards; Jack Pierce, 5 carries, 16 yards; Marvelous Green, 3 carries, 8 yards; Billy King Ace Meneese, 2 carries, 5 yards; Jordyn Chanthavong, 1 carry, minus-3 yards; Marche DeBurle, 1 carry, minus-3 yards.
Receiving: Kevyn Ruth, 1 reception, 67 yards, 1 TD; Marvelous Green, 1 reception, 13 yards, 1 TD.
Defense: Aaron Strand, 1 sack; Billy King Ace Meneese, 2 recorded tackles; Jordyn Chanthavong, 1 recorded tackle; Jack Pierce, 1 recorded tackle; Marvelous Green, 1 recorded tackle.
