Special to Jacksonville SportsDay
JACKSONVILLE, FL – It was a battle of the 2023 league champions as the Jacksonville Sharks hosted the Bay Area Panthers in Jacksonville’s home opener.
It was an offensive affair from the start, as the Sharks took the lead on the first drive of the game; a score by WR Jeremiah Payton, his first of the season. This was the only time either team scored in the first quarter, the Sharks led 6-0 after one.
The Panthers began the second quarter on the doorstep and quickly took a one point lead. Just minutes later, Payton made a great diving grab for his second touchdown of the game to put the Sharks up 12-7.
Towards the end of the first half, DL Brandon Munoz secured a fumble to set the Sharks up at Bay Area’s 20 yard line, but a turnover on downs ended one of the best scoring chances of the second quarter. The massive stop for the visitors changed momentum drastically, allowing them to take a 21-12 lead into halftime.
QB Eddie Brill Jr took over for the injured QB Conor Blount towards the end of the second quarter and played the remainder of the match up.
The second half saw major breakdowns from the Sharks on both sides of the ball, including miscommunication on a Bay Area onside kick, giving them back the ball after a touchdown.
WR Tamorrion Terry recorded the only third quarter touchdown for the Sharks, but the home team still trailed 35-18 going into the final 15 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Sharks the fourth quarter was very similar to the third, scoring only one touchdown in the frame, this time by WR Kamrin Solomon. Last season’s National Arena League Offensive Player of the Year already has four scores, three coming last week in Las Vegas.
The Bay Area Panthers took down the Sharks 48-24 in Jacksonville’s first home game of the Indoor Football League season.
The Sharks will return home on April 20th to take on the Vegas Knight Hawks. It’s Decades Night, so dress to show off your favorite decade and cheer on your Sharks at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
