Editor’s Note: 42Fifty staff member Caleb Miller is pictured in this article, but he did not take part in the writing or editing of it.
Crosstown: the most anticipated game of the season where the OH Panthers take on the OE Wolves. In a competitive game of football this past Friday, the Panthers took it home 35-18.
But by the third quarter, it wasn’t really a competition, the Panthers were up 35-0.
However, this win was not a surprise. OH senior and varsity player Danny Claycombe said before the game, “I think we’re gonna win, I don’t think it’ll be close.”
This game completed the team’s regular season with an 8-1 record. They worked as a team with five different Panthers scoring touchdowns, including Drew Kleinhans on a 63-yard run, Graham Schwab on a 4-yard run, Kaleb Dolan on a 60-yard punt return and Ethan Pilip on a pick-six. Kleinhans also threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Beckham Reynolds in the third quarter.
This isn’t to say that winning comes easy for the Panthers though: it took hard work, dedication, and practice.
“People on the team are definitely more focused and energized at practice,” Claycombe said. “There is just more energy. Everyone’s pumped up and ready to go. And we’ve just been on our marks this week.”
It wasn’t only the players that anticipated this game. It was also the fans. The student section was lively and packed. Full of cheers and chants to motivate the players. As well as the theme, which for this game was Gotham City/Blackout. Every student dressed in all black. Those who didn’t were dressed as a resident of Gotham City, such as the Joker, Cat Women, and Batman.
OH senior Mark Hill said before attending, “I like[d] ] because it’s something new that they have never done before. So it’s actually gonna be pretty cool to see.”
This game also had an emotional impact for the seniors attending.
Hill thinks Crosstown is more exciting than regular games, and said, “[It’s more exciting] because of the fact that it’s all seniors’ last Crosstown, like one more time to just go have fun before playoffs.”
In agreement, Claycombe said, “[I] definitely [had] some emotions you know, I’ve thought about it and it’s sad. Especially [since it’s] going to be my fourth time. You know it’s always a big deal for me and the team. But it just makes me want to go out and give it my all even more.”
In the ’27-28 school year, the Panthers will be on their home field for Crosstown to take on the Wolves.
I am a managing and social media editor on 42Fifty. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and my putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feekback on our publication.
Hi! My name is Ainslee Gerardot and I'm a senior at Oswego High School. This is my second year of the 42Fifty staff, and I am proud to serve as Social Media Editor and Co-Editor-in-Chief. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
