By Michael Lindsay
The Stone Memorial Panthers’ playoff journey wrapped up in a rain-soaked Class 4A second-round matchup Friday night as they fell to Red Bank, 21-6.
“The defense played their guts out; we gave up two or three plays and they were the ball game,” said Stone Memorial head coach Derik Samber. “Offensively, we stalled out and never got in a rhythm, whether that was penalties or missed assignments.”
The Panthers finish 2022 at 10-2 overall and Region 4-4A champions. Stone Memorial was led by a senior class that includes quarterback Hunter Heavilon, who played through injury Friday.
“Tremendous group; they’ve set the standard for what Stone football looks like,” Samber added. “It wasn’t always easy for them, but they fought through it. Hunter played his guts out and played like the man he is.”
The low-scoring game saw both defenses pitch shutouts in the first half.
Stone Memorial had an opportunity late in the first quarter as they marched to the Red Bank 10-yard line, but a field goal attempt sailed right to keep the game scoreless.
The 0-0 stalemate would stand through halftime.
Red Bank found daylight with 8:42 left in the third quarter. Pinned on their own 4-yard line by an SMHS punt, the Lions broke a rush up the middle 96 yards for a touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead.
Fortune would shine on Stone Memorial with 9:15 left in the fourth quarter as Red Bank’s punter mishandled a snap and was downed at his own 8-yard line, setting SMHS up first-and-goal with a chance to tie the game.
With Heavilon on the bench dealing with an injury, backup quarterback Nick Osmun took over and rushed in a 7-yard touchdown with 8:23 left.
Red Bank would execute on special teams, though, and block the Panther extra point attempt to hold a 7-6 lead.
Red Bank put it away shortly after, rushing in a 28-yard touchdown with 3:52 left then intercepting a Panther pass on the ensuing drive and returning it to the SMHS 2-yard line, scoring shortly after to go up 21-6.
Despite the quarterfinal loss, the Panthers added to the school record books in 2022. Stone Memorial’s region championship is the second in five years under Samber and the Panthers picked up their second playoff win in school history last week.
