Paint Branch’s Gaston Cooper, and Gaithersburg’s Nick DeCarlo did not disappoint those in attendance at today’s game between the Panthers and Trojans. Seeding was on the line for these 8-1 teams as they squared off at Walter Johnson High School. Cooper and DeCarlo each threw four touchdowns passes and ran for a score. Gaithersburg jumped off quickly in the 1st Quarter with DeCarlo throwing two TD strikes one to Will Tearney and the other to Ariel Martinez. Copper and the Panthers started off slow but moved the ball in the second quarter having been given a short field by the Trojans. Copper found WR Javon Curry for the 1st of his four touchdown catches. Gaithersburg had three chances in the second quarter from inside the Panther’s red zone to extend their 14-7 lead, but failed on a missed field goal and twice turned the ball over on downs. Paint Branch capitalized and scored twice before halftime on connections from Cooper to Curry. Panthers 21-14 at the end of the half.
Gaithersburg took the second half kick and scored on another DeCarlo to Tearney touchdown pass, but a missed pt.
left the Trojans behind 21-20. Cooper found the end zone from 9 yards out on a QB draw and found a wide open Curry on a busted defensive coverage for a 59 yard score. Paint Branch 35-20. Gaithersburg refused to lose and roared back when
DeCarlo hit Tearney for his third TD catch, this one 77 yards. The Trojans went for two and made it cutting the lead to 35-28. Down a touchdown entering the 4th quarter. Gaithersburg forced a Paint Branch punt, DeCarlo moved the Trojans down
the field and scored from one yard out. Gaithersburg went for two to take the lead but DeCarlo’s pass to Rainey fell incomplete even though there was clearly pass interference on the play in the end zone. After a couple of exchanges of punts Gaithersburg would get the ball one last time with under four minutes to play. The Trojans had the ball at midfield but the Panthers #50 sacked DeCarlo for a big loss. DeCarlo on 3rd and 20 found Tearney for almost a first down, a bad spot left the Trojans a half yard short. On fourth and one DeCarlo does a sneak and appears to get a first down with second effort but another poor spot by the linesman, left the Trojans inches short. Paint Branch is able to run out the clock final 35-34.
Story Provided by Steven DeCarlo
Final Score Paint Branch 35 Gaithersburg 34