It was a second straight big week for the Comstock Park Panthers last week in their win over Kelloggsville. For an offense that has been rolling all year, it was the first time on the season that the defense was able to find their way. This week would be halted in a big way from a tough Belding Black Knights squad.
Belding would draw the first score of the night midway through the opening quarter. Hayden Halladay would find his way in from 3-yards away to give the Black Knights a 7-0 lead. It wouldn’t take long for the Panthers to strike back, however. Donovan Cummings would connect with Zach Borek on a 20-yard touchdown strike. It was all knotted after one, 7-7.
It was a solid start to the second quarter for Belding as they scored at the 11:54 mark when Anthony Szubinski punched one in from1-yard out. This gave Belding a 13-7 lead after a missed PAT. Not long after, the Black Knights would pick up another as Halladay would take another in from 20-yards away. Belding held the lead at 20-7. Comstock Park wasn’t about to let the game get away, though. They had their offense rolling again when Cummings would find Spencer Dokl on a 50-yard touchdown pass. This would cut the Black Knights lead to 14-20. Behind their offense, Belding would respond. This time Szubinski would hook up with Halladay on a 35-yard touchdown pass. The third Halladay touchdown on the night would give Belding a 27-14 advantage. The grit that the Panthers showed to this point was undenyable. With just 26 seconds remaining in the half Easton Hood would punch one in from 1-yard out. This would take us to the half in a tight one as it would be Belding leading, 27-21.
The second half wouldn’t be as kind to Comstock Park. Belding was able to find some points midway through the third on a Codey Manley 5-yard touchdown tote to give the Black Knights a 33-21 lead. Late in the quarter Manley was at it again this time finding some daylight from 40-yards away. Belding started to put some distance between themselves and the Panthers. It was Black Knights after three, 41-21.
It was a half that for the first time all year the Comstock Park offense just couldn’t get anything going. On the other side Belding all but put the game away on the biggest play of the night. Szubinski would put the nail in the coffin of the Panthers as he would break loose on a 72-yard run. It would be all Belding to end this one, they take it 49-21.
Belding will move to 3-1 on the season as they grab their second win in a row. They will take on a Wyoming Kelloggsville team that continues to struggle next week. The Rockets fell to Sparta, 6-49, in week four.
The Comstock Park offense had their way for much of the opening half but just couldn’t find that success in the second half. A defense that was stout last week took an unfortunate turn this week. They will have a chance to get rolling again next week when they take on Wyoming Godwin Heights. The Wolverines fell to Hopkins, 6-20, on Friday night. The Panthers head into that one at 2-2 while the Wolverines come in at 0-4.
