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Show Vernal Panthers blast Craig Bulldogs, 44 to 8 The Vernal Junior High Panthers crushed the Bulldogs in Craig, Thursday, Thurs-day, 44 to 8, for their seventh win of the season as compared to two losses. "Our athletes did an excellent job. They hit well, delivered good crisp tackles and turned in a good job of blocking," stated Vernal football coach, Leon Smuin. Vernal jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter. Lloyd Merkley scored the touchdown on a two-yard quarterback quarter-back sneak and Kurt Robb scored the two-point conversion on a dive. The touchdown was set up on a 30 yard screen pass to Neldon Smuin, which . moved Vernal close to the goal line. Robb blasted 70 yards off tackle for a touchdown for Vernal in the second quarter and Merkley carried the ball in for a two-point conversion, which gave the Panthers a 16 to 0 lead. Smuin garnered Vernal's second touchdown in the second quarter on a three yard off tackle run. Smuin's touchdown gave the Panthers a 22 to 0 lead. Craig gained its first and only touchdown in the second quarter on a ten yard run. The touchdown was set up on a 60 yard pass play. Craig also scored the two-point conversion on a run, which made the score at the end of the first half, Vernal, 22 and Craig, 8. One touchdown was acquired by Vernal Ver-nal in the third quarter on a six yard off tackle run by Smuin. The score at the end of the third quarter was 28 to 8 in favor of Vernal. Merkley connected with Murray Johnson in the end zone on a 35 yard bomb for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Vernal also scored the two-point two-point conversion. Johnson scored his second se-cond touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 15 yard reverse and Smuin carried the ball into the end zone on an inside reverse for the two point conversion. The final score was: Vernal, 44 and Craig, 8. "It was an excellent team effort. Everyone we played turned in good performances. per-formances. We played all our players and we played our second unit in most of the second half," said Smuin. The Panthers finished the season with a 7-2 record. Vernal downed West, 18-0, 6-0; Rangely, 22-6, 24-22; Craig, 28-12, 44-8; and Duchesne, 10-0. Vernal suffered losses to Rock Springs, 12-8 and Roosevelt, 28-0. |