The Bay Area Panthers opened their Indoor Football League season against the visiting San Antonio Gunslingers at the SAP Center.
With returning veterans playing alongside several rookies, the Panthers opened up on their first drive with a 45 yard pass play from #12 QB Josh Jones to a double-covered receiver #2 Josh Tomas.
The extra point made the score 7-2 Panthers as the Gunslingers scored 2 points on #33 Tyler Huettel’s opening kickoff sailing between the goalposts on the opposite end zone.
San Antonio scored a field goal and a touchdown in the second quarter but not before another touchdown by Josh Tomas as he alluded tackles into the San Antonio end zone.
The Panthers were denied another touchdown as Jones’ pass was intercepted in the end zone by DB #4 Clifton Duck.
San Antonio capitalized on their ensuing possession with a 10-yard dart thrown by #16 QB Malik Henry to a wide open receiver, #3 Glen Gibbons in the right corner of the end zone. With an unsuccessful PAT, the Panthers went into halftime with a 3-point lead, 14-11.
The first score of the third quarter came at the 7-minute mark with another touchdown pass from Malik Henry to Glen Gibbons on a crossing route in the end zone. Gibbons did well to hang onto the football as he was tackled over the sideline barriers.
The Panthers struggled to gain momentum and yardage on their next possession, turning the ball over to San Antonio. Post-play penalties pushed the Gunslingers back from a touchdown drive but Huettel’s kick added 3 more points for San Antonio. Slowly but surely, San Antonio took an 8-point lead into the fourth quarter, 22-14.
Penalties plagued them in the first few minutes into the fourth quarter but the Panthers drove towards the end zone again. Jones looked comfortable in the pocket and went all in with a 30-yard pass attempt to wide receiver #13 Trevon Alexander only to be intercepted by #1 Ravarius Rivers, former 2024 IFL Defensive Player of the Year!
Malik Henry found a well-covered #14 Austin Upshaw in the endzone for another Gunslingers’ touchdown with about 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Huettel’s PAT missed the mark again, sailing wide left, making the score 28-14, San Antonio.
A San Antonio fumble recovered by the Panthers’ #23 Morris Joseph Jr. with 2:37 left set up a much needed scoring drive for the Panthers but not before a botched snap reversed the Panthers back in their own territory.
Undeterred, Jones found an open Josh Tomas on a go-route down the middle of the field for another touchdown, Tomas’ third for the game. Josh Tomas would recover the on-side kick with less than a minute of play left in the game.
The Panthers eventually made their way onto San Antonio’s 11 yard line but Jones found himself scrambling into the backfield throwing a jump ball into the end zone, only to find the ball bouncing its way on the ground. Final score: Bay Area Panthers 14, San Antonio Gunslingers 28.
