The Pflugerville Panthers and the Bowie Bulldogs were members of District 25-5A for two seasons, and met up twice on the gridiron. During those seasons, both games were close battles, with the Bulldogs winning in the end. This season however, the Panthers were able to come away with a 27-21 victory in their season opener at Kuempel Stadium.

The Panthers were led by the return of Storm Woods, who missed most of last season due to a knee injury. Woods, an Oregon State commit, put to rest any questions that might have existed about his knee with three impressive touchdown runs.

In the first quarter, following a 24-yard run by Julian Ward, and a 7-yard run by Sammy Flowers, Woods ripped off a 34-yard touchdown romp to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead. Later in the quarter, following a Bulldog fumble that was recovered by the Panthers Nathan McCallum, Woods scored again,this time from four yards to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead.

Late in the second quarter, the Bulldogs finally scored when their star running back Brelyn Sorrells capped off a 57-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-7.

Toward the end of the third quarter, Alex Dean got the Panthers passing game going, as he completed an 11-yard pass to senior tight end Jordan Moon. Then Flowers excited the Panther faithful when he turned a short pass completion from Dean into a 44-yard gain down to the Bulldogs 4-yard line. From there, Dean scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers a 21-7 lead.

With the Panthers leading 21-7 going into the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs answered on the first play of the quarter with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Robbie Dickie to Nygel McCloud to cut the Panthers lead to 21-14.

The Panthers answered with a 77-yard drive, which was keyed by the running of Woods, Ward and Carlos Santa Cruz. Facing fourth down and needing two-yards at the Bulldogs 29-yard line, the Panthers called Woods’ number and he answered with a 29-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good, leaving the score at 27-14. The Bulldogs got another touchdown late, as Sorrells made it into the end zone on a 5-yard run, following a long pass completion, to make the score 27-21.

The Bulldogs got the ball back late in the game with the chance to win it but Woods intercepted the Bulldogs deep pass to ensure the victory for the Panthers.