Panthers Debut New Roster in Season Opener
- Mariah Young
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 8
"We came out and fought hard against a strong team... and we will be better from it next week". - Zy McDonald
College football is back. The Panthers kicked off the 2025 season on Saturday, August 30, in Birmingham, Ala., at Legion Field in the “Week- Zero Labor Day Classic” against the Valdosta State Blazers. Despite great efforts and obtaining two leads within the game, the Panthers fell short to the Blazers 31-28.
Head coach Teddy Keaton decided to debut several new additions to the team, one of which was the newest quarterback transfer from Jackson State University, Zy McDonald. He threw for 234 passing yards and scored three touchdowns, throwing for two and rushing for one. David Martin caught a 21-yard pass from McDonald, tying the game 14-14 at the end of the first half, to follow up Jalen Samuels’ touchdown, the first one of the game. The team then obtained a 21-14 lead after a 22-yard touchdown pass from McDonald to Darren Stephens late in the 3rd quarter.
Despite completing passes to several teammates, McDonald completed only 14-30 passes, ending the game with a 46% completion percentage. Although the Panthers rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns, the team allowed Valdosta State to rush for 201 yards and three touchdowns. “I felt like I could’ve started a little fast in the first half and minimized some mistakes,” McDonald says. “As an offense, we wanted to put up 500 total yards,350 in the air and 150 on the ground- but we were a little short on those goals.”
Towards the end of the third quarter, with the score tied at 28-28, wide receiver Ronnie West catches a kick return but fumbles, allowing the Blazers to recover the ball and score on their next drive, making the score 31-28. Carlos Lopez attempts a 47-yard field goal, but the kick is blocked by Valdosta State special teams, allowing the Blazers to seal the 3-point lead against the Panthers to close out the Labor Day Classic.
McDonald also states, “I could improve on completions this upcoming week by working on my one-on-one matchups and taking what the defense gives me in the short and intermediate pass game, not being afraid to take my shots downfield. It was a learning experience, and we will be better from it next week.”
Despite the close loss, the Panthers have shown a glimpse of a promising season ahead by figuring out the pieces with the new players on the team this season. The Panthers are set for redemption next Saturday, September 6 as they take on Florida Memorial at 3 p.m. on the red carpet at Panther Stadium.
