Despite Bartlett playing tougher, Golden Wildcats still prevail
By Omar Al- Kotob
Special to West10/Legacy Media
The Bartlett Panthers knew the beginning of the 2025 season was going to be a tough task under new Head Coach Ben Bowden.
Opening week was a heartbreaking Hail Mary loss to the MUS Owls. Then a road trip to Germantown proved to be overwhelming. This past Friday, the good news for the Panthers was returning home to the Bartlett Football Stadium. The bad news was taking on 2024 Class 4A State Finalist the Melrose Golden Wildcats.
The Golden Wildcats beat the Panthers 20-13 to drop Bartlett to 0-2 on the season. The Panthers led the game by two points until the third quarter when the Golden Wildcats completed a touchdown pass giving them the lead by the score of 14-10.
Once the Golden Wildcats took the lead, they didn’t let go of it and finished the game with another six points to prevail 20-10.
Bartlett didn’t go down without a fight. Panther quarterback Patrick Sandler passed for 119 yards including his touchdown pass in the second quarter. Bartlett running back Aiden Jackson rushed for 50 yards in the defeat.
The loss is the third for Bartlett this season, however, unlike last week’s 39-6 loss to Germantown, they kept the score close. This has been a difficult start to the Panthers season at 0-3, but the team is already focusing on getting win No. 1 next week welcoming the Overton Wolverines to town.
“Its’s a hard one to swallow but we will get back to work and get after it next week,” said Bowden.
