Two of the top teams in the Washington Youth Football League’s 8U Division squared off in The Seattle Medium’s Game of the Week, as the undefeated CD Panthers faced Five Star in a matchup featuring two teams that had dominated their opponents early in the season.
CD entered the game with a 4-0 record and had outscored its opponents 97-7, while Five Star entered at 3-1 and had scored 142 points while allowing 35. But on this day, Five Star’s combination of a powerful rushing attack and an opportunistic defense proved to be too much, as Five Star built a 20-0 halftime lead and went on to record a 40-0 victory.
Five Star established its ground game early behind Isaiah Buckner. After runs of 6 yards and a 1-yard loss, Buckner broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run to put Five Star on the scoreboard.
CD attempted to respond on the ground, with Travon Martin picking up carries for the Panthers, but the Five Star defense kept CD from establishing any sustained offensive rhythm.
Five Star continued to apply pressure with its running game. After an opening run by Amaru Blandford-Siu, Raaziq Dumas broke loose for a 31-yard touchdown run as Five Star continued to build its first-quarter advantage.
The Panthers appeared to have an opportunity to generate some momentum when Nehemiah Mitchell broke free for an 8-yard run. But Dumas made one of the game’s biggest defensive plays, stripping the ball from Mitchell and giving Five Star possession at the CD 40-yard line.
Five Star capitalized on the turnover. Buckner ripped off gains of 10 and 15 yards before Joel Mefi finished the possession with a 15-yard touchdown run.
CD’s defense continued to battle and kept Five Star from adding to its total during the second quarter. The Panthers also tried to find something offensively, with Martin gaining 10 yards on one of his carries and Mitchell completing a pass to Romero Williams, but Five Star’s defense continued to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard. CD eventually punted the ball away as Five Star carried a 20-0 advantage into halftime.
Five Star wasted little time regaining control in the second half. Blandford-Siu opened the third quarter with a 14-yard run before Buckner continued his strong afternoon with gains of 9 yards and eventually a 33-yard touchdown run. Dumas then completed a pass to Mefi for the two-point conversion, increasing Five Star’s lead to 28-0.
The Panthers continued to look for a way to break through offensively, but Five Star’s defense remained disciplined. Martin, Romello Woods and other CD ball carriers found little room as Five Star continued to prevent the Panthers from putting together a scoring drive.
Mefi helped Five Star move the ball again late in the third quarter, recording runs of 8 and 32 yards as Five Star continued to control the line of scrimmage.
Blandford-Siu finished that drive at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run, extending Five Star’s lead to 34-0.
CD continued to battle, with Tymir Reese picking up 4 yards on a fourth-quarter carry, but Five Star’s defense again stopped the Panthers from generating a scoring opportunity.
Mefi then provided the final big play of the afternoon. With Five Star backed up near its own end of the field, Mefi broke loose for a 69-yard touchdown run, his second touchdown of the game, to give Five Star a 40-0 advantage.
Five Star’s rushing attack proved to be the difference throughout the game. Mefi finished with 140 yards and two rushing touchdowns on six carries, while Buckner added 128 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 10 carries. Dumas rushed for 39 yards and a touchdown on two carries, while Blandford-Siu added 19 yards and a touchdown on three carries.
Just as impressive was Five Star’s ability to shut down a CD team that entered the game unbeaten and averaging more than 24 points per game. The Panthers had scored 97 points through their first four games while allowing only seven, but Five Star kept them out of the end zone from start to finish to complete the 40-0 shutout.
Game Stats
Five Star
Rushing: Joel Mefi, 6 carries, 140 yards, 2 TDs; Isaiah Buckner, 10 carries, 128 yards, 2 TDs; Raaziq Dumas, 2 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD; Amaru Blandford-Siu, 3 carries, 19 yards, 1 TD; Damoni Vicks, 1 carry, minus-2 yards.
Scoring: Joel Mefi, 2 rushing TDs; Isaiah Buckner, 2 rushing TDs; Raaziq Dumas, 1 rushing TD; Amaru Blandford-Siu, 1 rushing TD.
Defense: Raaziq Dumas forced a first-half fumble by stripping the ball from CD’s Nehemiah Mitchell. Five Star held CD scoreless.
Team Rushing: 22 carries, 324 yards, 6 TDs.
CD Panthers
Passing: Nehemiah Mitchell, 1 completion, 1 attempt, 0 yards.
Rushing: Nehemiah Mitchell, 2 confirmed carries, 7 yards; Travon Martin, 6 carries, 2 yards; J’Von Kelly, 2 carries, 2 yards; Tymir Reese, 2 carries, 2 yards; Romello Woods, 1 carry, 0 yards.
Receiving: Romero Williams, 1 reception, 0 yards.
