Panthers win first game under the lights

BRADENTON — If his play Friday night was any indication, Bradenton Christian School running back R.J. Schooler is going to enjoy playing under the lights at home this season.

Schooler rushed for a game-high 212 yards on 21 carries and accounted for two touchdowns as the Panthers celebrated their first night home game in program history with a 41-22 victory over Class 1B-District 6 rival Southwest Florida Christian Academy. The 5-foot-9, 200-pound senior gave the Panthers a lead they would never relinquish by taking a shovel pass from quarterback Sean McCarthy 40 yards for a score with 10:12 left in the second quarter.

“We felt very excited,” Schooler said about the atmosphere in the locker room before kickoff. “We felt like we were going to go out there and take it if we played with intensity.”

BCS coach Allan Gerber felt that the excitement surrounding the 5-year-old program’s first varsity home night game and the school’s 50th anniversary celebration might have been too much early. A 46-yard pass play to Colton Catto set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Southwest Florida Christian quarterback Andrew Hall that gave the Kings an 8-0 lead with 5:35 left in the first quarterback.

“I certainly hope it’s not because I’m a bad football coach,” said Gerber. “Let’s face it. There has been a lot to do about this game.”

Schooler touched the ball on the Panthers’ first nine plays before McCarthy found Austin Dumas for a 29-yard gain down to the Kings’ 5.

Two plays later, McCarthy called his own number and scored his team’s first touchdown of the season.

While it was predominately Schooler in the first quarter, the Panthers showed off their aerial attack in the second. In addition to the 40-yard scoring pass to Schooler, McCarthy completed all four attempts and went into halftime with two rushing touchdowns and 107 yards on 7-of-7 passing.

In fact, McCarthy’s first incompletion came with 6:03 left in the game and he finished with 137 yards on 11-of-12 passing. His 4-yard shovel pass to classmate Johnny Prince resulted in the Panthers’ last touchdown.

“I played high school football and college football,” said Gerber. “I’ve been around coaches for a long time. I would not want to play quarterback for me.”

I know that sounds very egotistical to say that, but (McCarthy) is in a position where we function through him.

Everything around us revolves around his decisions.”