A tentative Panther team hung with the Raiders for the first half but couldn't overcome three 2nd half turnovers and the Raiders superior athleticism.

The Raiders struck first after the Panther QB fumbled at his own 8 yard line. Ibrahim Lowe recovered and 2 plays later QB Kevin Bickler hit WR Henry Newson over the middle for the score.

The teams exchanged 3 and out possessions to end the first quarter. Starting at the their own 40, the Panthers drove 57 yard in 6 plays behind the running of Ty Williams but another QB fumble ended the drive at the Raider's 3 yard line. This time it was DT Kimo Fai Fai exploding through the Panther offensive line and disrupting the handoff. DB Lajuane Brown recovered.

Starting at their own 5, Bickler went over the top to WR Calvin Griggs who made a spectacular diving catch at the 40. Griggs celebrated the catch and was hit with a 15 yard taunting penalty. The Raiders went 3 and out from there with Panther DE Greg Gadbois sacking Bickler for a 9 yard loss on 3rd down.

A short Raider punt set up the Panthers at the Raider 29. They couldn't move the ball and kicker Jake Barr came on to attempt a 42 yard field goal. Raider safety Johnny Lyday, who spent much of the game in the Panther backfield, blocked Barr's attempt.

The Raiders tried a reverse on first down but couldn't connect on the handoff from RB Alphonso Harris to WR Roy Johnson. DE Jay Dizmang recovered for the Panthers setting the Panthers up at the Raider 18 late in the first half. LB Ibrahim Lowe sacked Panther QB Brandon Victor on and Lyday knocked away a pass to bring up 4th and 2 at the Raider 10. The Panthers went to their strength with Ty Williams running through several Raider tackle attempts into the end zone. Barr's PAT tied the game at the half.

On the 2nd half kickoff Alphonso Harris went up the right sideline into a gang of Panthers then cut back all the way across the field and down the left sideline to the Panther 25. John Lewis made the touchdown saving tackle on Harris' 65 yard return. The Panther defense stiffened as Bickler couldn't connect on first and second down pass attempts. DT Justin Messman chased him out of the pocket and forced him to run on 3rd down. LB Chris Williams put a wicked hit on Bickler after a he had picked up 7 yards. On 4th and 3, Bickler went sure-handed Henry Newson for 5 yards and a first down at the Panther 13. Two plays later Bickler hit WR Antonio Chandler on swing pass and Chandler easily outran the Panther defense for the score. Jason Heckel's kick put the Raiders up 14-7 early in the 3rd.

After the teams again exchanged 3 and out possessions the Panthers took over at the Raider 44. On first down QB Naamon Archer threw a strike to his TE. The ball glanced of his hands right to CB Wayne Harris. The Raiders could only manage 1 first down before punting.

The Panthers took over at their own 30 after a short Raider punt. On 3rd and 12 QB Naamon Archer was forced out of the pocket and scrambled to his left with Raider safety Johnny Lyday in hot pursuit.. Just as Archer was about the cross the line of scrimmage Lyday knocked the ball and DT Aaron Adams recovered at the Panther 24. A 16 yard pass to Chandler moved the ball to the 7 on the last play of the 3rd quarter. FB Kimo Fai Fai rumbled straight through the Panther defense to finish the drive and Heckel's PAT put the Raiders up 21-7.

Down by 14 the Panthers went to the air and could manage only 1 first down before having to punt. Good special teams coverage by Marvin Bronson and Matt Dean pinned the Raiders at their own 10. After Fai Fai was stuffed for no gain, Bickler again went over the top to Griggs. This time Bickler hit him in stride and Griggs easily outraced the Panther secondary. The 90 yard touchdown was the icing on the cake for the Raiders.

The Panthers gained just one first down before having to punt again. This time it was Raider #44 sacking QB Brandon Victor on first down, and Alphonso Harris knocking away passes on 2nd and 3rd down to force the Raiders into a punting situation.

Starting at midfield halfway through the 4th quarter, the Raider offense struggled but did manage 1 first down on a pass interference penalty. They went for it on 4th and 8 from the Panther 32 but Bickler couldn't connect with Chandler and the Raiders turned the ball over on downs.

A 35 yard run up the middle by Ty Williams moved the Panthers to the Raider 30. A roughing the passer penalty moved the ball down to the 15 with under a minute to play. On 2nd down from the 14, Panther QB Brandon Victor was tripped up as he dropped back to pass. With several Raider defenders bearing down on him, he quickly got up and scrambled to his right and threw a desperation pass into the end zone right to Raider DB Brian Autele. Autele did his best "Dion Sanders" imitation (according to teammates), carrying the ball out in front of him while starting on what could have been a 103 yard interception return. Ty Williams came out of nowhere to violently separate Autele from the ball. The ball rolled back into the end zone where TE Jim Haxton fell on it for a Panther touchdown. Barr connected on the PAT to pull the Panthers within 2 TDs at 27-14.

Hoping for another miracle, the Panthers attempted an onside kick. The ball bounced over one Raider and off the hands of another before Antonio Chandler covered it just ahead of the oncoming Panthers. Bickler kneeled down to run out the clock and return the Raiders to the heat of the playoff race.

7:23 AM - time for some sleep. I'll try to get some pictures posted later on today.

Rushing: attempts-yards-TDs (long)
Raiders: Kevin Bickler 6-29 (12), Kimo Fai Fai 3-13-1 (7), Alphonso Harris 6- -3 (2), Beau Gates 1-1
Panthers: Ty Williams 17-136-1 (35), Dara Donalde 1-6, Naamon Archer 2-5 (6), Brandon Victor 4-0 (1)

Passing: completions-attempts-interceptions-yards-TDs
Raiders: Kevin Bickler 13-31-0-207-3
Panthers: Brandon Victor 4-12-1-18-0, Naamon Archer 0-5-1-0-0

Receiving: catches-yards-TDs (long)
Raiders: Calvin Griggs 4-138-1 (90), Henry Newson 4-42-1 (23), Antonio Chandler 2-29-1 (16), Alphonso Harris 3- -2 (3)
Panthers: John Lewis 1-11, Frank UIrich 1-5, Titus Bohanan 1-2, Marvin Bronson 1-0