Mustangs fall to Panthers in home field opener

A week following a narrow 24-18 escape in overtime against Midlakes, the Geneva Panthers racked up all 37 of their points in the first half  en route to a 37-7 victory over the Penn Yan Mustangs.

Panthers’ senior quarterback Shane Sweeney threw 11 completions for 177  yards in 23 attempts and for three touchdowns. Panther wide receiver  Sean Cunningham made seven receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown, while  his teammate Jose Torres caught eight passes for 60 yards and the other two  of Sweeney’s touchdowns.

Geneva then scored a pair of two-yard rushing touchdowns behind Desmond  Reese and sophomore bruiser James Truley. Truley led the Panthers in  rushing yards on the night with 54 yards in seven carries to Reese’s 47 yards in 11 rushes.

Penn Yan’s junior tight end Jim Burdette caught a five-yard touchdown pass  from sophomore quarterback Derek Sisson late in the fourth quarter to put the Mustangs on the board. Burdette’s touchdown and Kevin McMahon’s  extra point accounted for all of Penn Yan’s points.

Sisson threw all three of his completions in 14 attempts to Burdette for 38 yards. Mustang senior running back Todd Mills led Penn Yan runners in  rushing yards with 51 in 12 carries.

“We just couldn’t get anything going” stated Penn Yan Head Coach Bill  LaRock, adding,  “Our athletes are working hard, but they’re frustrated and still see the negative aspects of our results. Our defense played a very good  game.”

Four of Penn Yan’s offensive drives began deep in their own end of the  field, starting from distances of 92, 93, 90, and 89 yards from the end  zone.

Penn Yan now looks ahead to their homecoming game, which will be played  against the Midlakes Screaming Eagles on Saturday at 1 p.m. Midlakes  finished last year ranked 16th overall in the NYSSWA Class B football  rankings. This year, Midlakes is 1-1 after defeating Palmyra-Macedon  22-8 a week after their overtime Geneva loss.

Penn Yan’s record falls to 0-2 for the year.