Staff Reports
PIEDMONT — The Spring Garden Panthers were the smallest team at the 10-team 7-on-7 football tournament at Piedmont on Saturday.
But they proved they can play with the bigger schools.
The Panthers finished runner-up to Class 4A Handley. They fell by the final of 30-14 in the tournament championship after defeating Class 3A Ohatchee in the semifinals.
It’s the second straight year Spring Garden finished runner-up to Handley.
“I am super proud of the fight our guys showed today,” second-year Spring Garden coach Barrett Ragsdale said. “It was a long hot day and we never quite put ourselves in a great position to wholesale sub. Six of the seven on the field played on both sides of the ball, so the mental toughness to play and compete in seven games is something we can hang our hats on moving forward.”
Ragsdale noted the play of tight end John Welsh and quarterback Noah Barber for the day.
“John Welsh had an outstanding day and came up big in several games on both sides of the ball. Noah Barber was very efficient passing and going with what the defense gave him. He did a really good job of spreading the ball around besides John to Connor Bates, Zane Edwards, Johnny Baker and Lucas McGatha.”
The Panthers open the 2024 regular season on Aug. 23 at home against Class 2A Sand Rock.