Panthers are Two Wins from the Playoffs

Hartnell Dean of Athletics Dan Teresa shows the team the traveling TJ Owens trophy they retained by defeating Gavilan, 40-28, on Oct. 16.

Despite a season with several frustrating reversals and a 3-4 record, the Hartnell Football team has a path over the next two weeks to win its American-Golden Coast Conference and reach the playoffs.

That path begins at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 6, at Rabobank Stadium against Monterey Peninsula College. Victory there leads to the Panthers’ final regular season game on the road against Merced College on Nov. 13.

Admission to all home football games is free to students and employees with a Hartnell ID. Saturday's game is also special because during halftime, Hartnell will honor five newly inducted members of its Athletics Hall of Fame.

“We’ve got to beat Monterey,” said Head Coach Matt Collins. “First and foremost, we’ve got to handle this weekend.”

Because of a storied rivalry between Monterey County’s two community colleges, the game against MPC is always a wild card. Before the pandemic gap year of 2020, the Lobos had won the last two, including a season-ending 61-33 victory in 2018 that ruined the Panthers’ 7-0 record.

“You can throw the records out in these types of games,” Collins said.

But he goes back to the point he’s been stressing all year, the need to maintain mental focus and avoid “shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Other than a season-opening loss to a stronger Foothill team on Sept. 11, Collins said, the Panthers have themselves to blame for victories they let get away through turnovers, penalties and miscues.

“I’m hoping that we finally are able to take that next step and really just give four quarters of smart football,” he said.

Hartnell has had outstanding success in its passing game, with quarterback JP Garcia leading the entire state in yards per game, with an average of 310, and third in total touchdowns, with 20. He threw for 444 yards in the 38-44 overtime defeat at San Jose on Oct. 30.

One of several strong receivers for the Panthers, Josiah Freeman, is the state leader in yards per game, with 111. On the ground, running back Payton Flores is not far behind, ranked No. 9 with 633 yards on 101 carries, an average of 6.3 yards per carry.

The Lobos will bring a run-oriented offense that retains a potent passing attack, facing a Panthers defense that has proven tough against the run and less consistent against the pass.

Injuries have been a challenge for Hartnell, which will suit up 32 players this weekend, compared to well over 40 in the early season.

“The way I look at this team, we’re a lot better than our record,” Collins said, “so it’s just a matter of focusing on how we pay, not who we play.”