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SALT LAKE CITY — West's first home game of the season brought on an onslaught of mistakes that end up costing the Panthers.
From the start, West was unable to go anywhere on the first drive of the game. The ensuing punt was fumbled and recovered by visiting opponent Clovis East (California) on the Panthers' 8-yard line, which led to an early rushing touchdown on the first play of the drive.
Despite the mistakes throughout, West tied up the game 21-21 to closeout the third quarter, setting up an entertaining finish.
The game, though, came down to the last two drives of the final minutes of the game. Panthers sophomore quarterback Kamden Lopati was intercepted by Jade Lopez, giving the Timberwolves good field position in the waning minutes.
And with 21 seconds left in the game, Francisco Damas put up a kick that went straight through the uprights to give the Timberwolves a 24-21 lead that went on to be the final score, and the first win of the season for the California team.
Heartbreak.
West got their chance early in the game to come out of 7-0 deficit as the team marched down the field, and Izaiah Holley was able to slice through the defense into the end zone for a 24-yard score.
West got another chance when Holley came up big once again and intercepted Clovis East quarterback Tyus Miller. Lopati then threw an easy ball to a wide-open Jared Chase in the end zone to take a 14-7 lead.
But the Timberwolves had an impressive rushing touchdown of their own on a 28-yard run by Taemell Horton, in which he stiff-armed defenders en route to a score to tie up the game 14-14 to end the quarter.
The only important action in the second quarter took place with another West mistake on an attempted fake punt. The play ultimately ended with the Panthers downed on their own 3-yard line with 49 seconds left in the half.
The Panthers were fortunate the Timberwolves couldn't capitalize on the mistake, though. Clovis East tried to settle for a field goal but were ultimately blocked by West's Chachi Pan.
The third quarter brought on a back-and-forth battle as the Timberwolves were able to retake the lead as Blake Mathieu reeled in the 36-yard pass from Miller for a 21-14 lead.
But West got one back as Louie Hamilton rushed into the end zone on the ensuing possession to tie the game again to start the fourth quarter. But, again, a mistake doomed West in their final drive.
West was unable to recover at home after last week's crushing 45-28 loss in Norman Park, Georgia, and start the season with an 0-2 record.
