Panther football won its second consecutive game in dominant fashion last Friday, defeating Riverdale 48-0.

“We played very hard the last two weeks. In the first half the seniors have really hammered the opponent,” head coach Chad Phillips said. “[The seniors] keep raising the bar a little bit. The expectations are what they are and they have met those. They’re leaving that with the next class and the classes behind them.” 

Starr’s Mill scored a total of seven touchdowns on Senior Night. The Panthers accumulated 230 total yards of offense.

Seniors Andersen Cardoza and Dorsey Benefield, juniors Jeremiah Potter and Lincoln DeLare, sophomore Tanner Via, and freshman Caden Forester all scored in the win. Benefield scored twice, a 10-yard run in the first quarter and a 3-yard run in the second quarter.

“[Being a Panther] means a lot [to me],” senior Lautaro Bueno said. “I’ve lived here my whole life, I’ve come to all the football games and sporting events, and it definitely means a lot to me. I bleed blue.”

 Seniors who lead the Starr’s Mill offense include Andersen Cardoza, Dorsey Benefield, Colton Smith, Jabob Spitznagle, and Pete West. 

“Hard work will get you where you want,” Bramblett said. “[The team] has shaped me to be a better leader. Being a Panther means everything to me.” 

Seniors Carson Schmidlkofer, Colton Smith, Will Clem, Cayden Mullins, Dorsey Benefield, Taylor Ratinaud, Ethan Bramblett, Zack Berger, Lautaro Bueno, and Pete West all play key roles in the team’s defense.  Seniors Max Prozny and Hunter Meeks are the main kickers for the Panthers. 

“[A Panther is] ferocious, it’s relentless,” Phillips said. “It signifies a spirit, a highly competitive spirit that never says die.”

Starr’s Mill is currently in a four-way tie atop the region standings. The team travels to play North Clayton this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be held in Tara Stadium.