SAN ANTONIO — Maybe O’Connor won’t have that wide-open passing game that made it so successful the previous two years behind now-graduated quarterback Zach Galindo. If junior running back Jamontae Edwards has games such as Saturday’s 28-23 victory over No. 7 Reagan on Saturday night, the No. 8 Panthers won’t have to worry about it. Edwards rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns to lead O’Connor in its season-opener before 5,828 fans at Farris Stadium. “He solidified what we thought about him,” O’Connor coach David Malesky said. “He’s a great back. Our offensive line did an amazing job, too.” And so did O’Connor’s defense. The Panthers picked off three passes and turned them into touchdowns as Reagan platooned a pair of sophomore quarterbacks, Cade Bormet and Kellen Mond. O’Connor linebacker Kaleb Williams had two of those interceptions. “Our job on defense is to get the ball back for the offense, and the offense’s job is to score points when they get the ball,” Malesky said. “Turnovers, especially early in the year, are always going to be crucial.” Two of those interceptions helped the Panthers build a 20-0 first-quarter lead. Williams’ first pickoff led to a 14-yard TD run by Edwards at the 8:52 mark. Williams scored from 51 yards out on the Panthers next drive. O’Connor took a 20-0 lead with a 7-yard TD pass from Jonathan McEntire to Jekovan Holmes. That came six plays after a Darryl Godfrey’s interception. Reagan cut it to 20-10 at halftime with an 18-yard TD catch by Ben Konetzke and a 40-yard field goal by Pablo Herrera. O’Connor went ahead, 28-10 on a 3-yard run by Edwards with 6:32 left in the fourth quarter. It was set up by Williams’ second interception. O’Connor snapped an eight-game losing streak to Reagan, with the previous win coming in 2006.
Story courtesy of David Hinojosa, San Antonio Express News. Photo courtesy of Phil Franzone, Alamo Sports Photography.