Visintainer Boots Panthers U-Hi Kicker’S 52-Yard Field Goal The Difference

In some respects, this year’s University-Mead Greater Spokane League football opener, won 9-7 by the Titans, resembled last year when the Titans capitalized on Panther mistakes to hold off their foe.

But it was left to Rocky Visintainer to put the foot into football and spell the difference between this defensive game and last year’s 27-21 Titan win.

Visintainer, benefitting from a 20 mile-per-hour tailwind, booted a massive 52-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to provide the winning points.

“The breeze definitely helped,” said Visintainer, part of a stalwart Titan defensive performance. “I’ve never kicked a ball that far before.”

Like last year, the Panthers hurt themselves with untimely penalties and fumbles, losing four of five bobbles.

Unlike last year, the team took a 7-6 lead with 36 seconds to go in the half when Wes Henry rolled left and threw 45 yards down field to fullback Lars Slind who had slipped out of the right side of the backfield.

U-Hi came right back, Chris Gross finding tight end Brandon Johnson alone up field, then rushing to Mead’s 35 and getting out of bounds with 1 second remaining.

Just enough time for Visintainer.

In the second half Mead had a first down at U-Hi’s 15 and fumbled, and missed a 30-yard field goal following Cameron Colling’s 62-yard interception return to the Titan 10.

“We’ve got to do a better job of coaching the fullback sweep,” said Panther coach Bob McCray. “But we’ll come back. Our defense played good enough to win.”

Not good enough to entirely stop Don Turner, who was the thorn in Mead’s side last year, too.

His catch for an 80-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, put the Titans ahead 6-0 not long after his interception blunted a Mead drive. And he had a big 29-yard reception on third down late in the game to break Mead’s heart.

U-Hi’s defense, led by Scott Florin, was stingy when need be to limit the Panthers to a single score. Henry injured his knee with 2:14 left to play.

“They were ready for us and we felt ready for them,” said coach Mike Ganey. “It was a great defensive effort by our kids.”