Derrick Barger

Friday night presented a big chance for the Royal Valley Panthers to make a statement on the football field as they took on a ranked Santa Fe Trail team that got the better of them last year, this time around it would be different.

The Panthers behind a strong defensive showing and a rushing attack that produced 400 yards against the Chargers earned the 40-14 win to improve to 2-1 on the season and helping lead the charge was Derrick Barger who had another big game this season.

Barger accounted for 185 of the Panthers 400 yards rushing, carrying the ball 25 times in the contests and scoring five touchdowns. The Panther senior runningback averaged 7.4 yards per carry in the contest.

Through three games Barger has totaled 552 yards on 52 carries with nine touchdowns, posting a 9.7 yards per carry average, while nearly totaling his production of nearly 700 yards last season in just three games this year. In week one the senior ran for 150 yards on 19 carries with a 60-yard touchdown in a 34-14 loss to Abilene, while rushing for 217 yards on just 13 carries with three touchdowns in a week two 61-6 win over Hiawatha.

After week one loss the Panthers have pounced on a pair of wins and with a win over a ranked Santa Fe Trail are starting to check the eye of many as a team to watch and Barger looks to help lead the way for Royal Valley as they look to continue their success.