Panthers to hit postseason for first time since 1992

The Porterville Panthers finally got the proverbial monkey off their backs.

All it took was an extra week’s practice, a schedule change and a 35-12 shellacking of a Chavez squad that didn’t know what hit them.

Porterville’s Josh Callanan got things rolling when Richie Coppenbarger found him for a 77-yard midway through the first quarter.

Running back David Ali, who ended the night with a team high 110 rushing yards, followed suit with a 4-yard run late in the opening quarter.

Coppenbarger, who had went 3-4 for 102 yards passing, took matters into his own hands for a 10-yard burst in the second quarter to pad the score at 21-0 entering the half.

Chavez struck back in the third by scoring off a Panthers botched on-sides kick and then again late in the third on a desperation 4th and 21 pass.

But not before Porterville’s Jordan McIntire squeezed in a 14-yard touchdown run to keep the Panthers safely ahead.

At 27-12 in the fourth quarter, the Panthers made a statement, eight-minute drive that saw them pull out of two 4th-down situations.

Daniel Rueger capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run and then hit the go-ahead two-point conversion to give the final score.

“This is huge,” a hoarse-voiced Panthers coach Rick Stewart said. “Our juniors and seniors never had a winning season.

“Now we’re in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.”

Rueger finished with 85 yards on nine carries while Callanan had 72 on five carries.

The Panthers finish off the season against a pair of cross-town rivals, Granite Hills and Monache before playoffs start next month.

Porterville held star running back Mathew MacAnas to just 94 yards and the entire Chavez team to 235 total yards offense.