In what has been a trying season for both the visiting Reseda Regents and the homecoming celebrating Panorama Pythons, one team was bound to put together four quarters of winning football. Panorama seemed to turn a corner in its search to rediscover their identity following their 27-20 victory over Van Nuys on Friday, September 27. Reseda came into this matchup looking to finally be healthy after dressing only 19 players in their loss to Sylmar that same night. It would be the Pythons celebrating a Homecoming Night win following their 46-12 victory, as they played to their identity under coach Adrian Beltran, and the Regents continued to lose players to injury.

“It’s guys banged up,” said Reseda head coach Austyn Ward of his team’s struggles this season to stay healthy, “That’s the way we’ve always had to play football at Reseda and guys go both ways. It’s tough, it’s taxing, it wears us down.” 

It didn’t take long for Panorama to show that they were looking to play smash mouth football. On the fourth play of the game, Giovani Zermeno took a handoff and broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run. After forcing the Regents into a three-and-out, the Pythons found the end zone again on their next possession. This time Elmer Rivera went 37-yards for the score.

“They’re coming along,” Beltran said when asked about the Pythons returning to the identity they’ve played with for many years, “they understand they’re playing who they are. They’re not trying to play something who they’re not, and they’re not trying to play like somebody who they might be trying to replace in a certain spot and it’s showing.”

Reseda responded immediately, showing off the athleticism and skill that Ward had hoped would allow his program to take the next steps in his rebuilding process. Star two-way player and senior Jay Mamon took the ensuing kickoff and burst down the sideline for a 95-yard touchdown. The Regents were unable to convert the two-point conversion, but were still in striking distance at 13-6. 

Injuries began to affect both teams in the second quarter. Christian Vargas injured his ankle and had to come out for a good portion of the period. Despite missing a key defensive back, Panorama held Reseda scoreless in the quarter while adding three touchdowns of their own. Sandwiched in between two typical rushing touchdowns, the Pythons added a big passing score. Quarterback Christian Miranda connected with Zermeno, who took the pass 60-yards for the score. It was the only pass attempt for Panorama in the game.

Rivera scored the first touchdown of the second quarter just after the teams switched sides in between periods. The junior would finish with 170 yards on 14 carries to go along with three scores. Victor Mendez would cap the scoring in the first half with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.

“(Rivera)’s a little guy who runs hard.” Beltrain said “He’s like 100 pounds soaking wet. He goes down quickly, but he always falls down forward, and that shows his toughness. He’s playing the style of football that the people in front of him are playing.”

Vargas, who returned to the game near the end of the quarter, would unfortunately be done for the game after making a play worth celebrating on Homecoming. He intercepted a pass from junior quarterback Henry Brown in the end zone as time expired in the first half. Vargas attempted to run the ball back, and was almost able to turn the corner for what would have been a long return and potentially a touchdown. Unfortunately, he was caught from behind and on the ensuing tackle re injured his left ankle. Vargas would not return to the game.

In the second half, the attrition would hit Reseda hard. Midway through the third, Monroy was out of the game. The Regents also lost what looked like at least three other players during the final two quarters. There was also a scary moment when Miguel Torroba connected on a hard tackle on the sideline. He was quick to try to convince his teammates and the sideline official that he was okay, but he ultimately walked to the Reseda sideline with the medic to be evaluated.

The Regents would be the first team to get on the board on their first possession of the third quarter. Brown found fellow junior Anthony White in the middle of the field on a crossing pattern. White took the pass and went 69 yards for a touchdown. 

“The first time we were able to get him the ball… a new player emerges,” Ward said of White, who was essentially playing in his first game.

Panorama answered back at the end of the quarter with Mendez running in from 14 yards out for his second touchdown of the game. The Pythons would conclude the scoring midway through the fourth quarter on a 66 yard rush from Rivera for his third touchdown of the game.

“Our kids battle,” reflected Ward following the game, “our kids are tough and the only thing we can do is get better” 

Panorama is now 3-3 overall and 2-1 against Valley Mission League opponents. Reseda falls to 1-6 and 0-3 in league play. Both teams return to action on Friday night on the road. The Pythons will travel to face the reigning Los Angeles City Section D3 champion Jordan Bulldogs. The Regents will go down the road to face a Van Nuys Wolves team that just defeated San Fernando 36-30.