The return of North Mac football this year brought a crowd, but the Williamsville Bullets spoiled the victory celebration by defeating the Panthers 52-28 last Friday (Oct. 2, 2021).

Bullets Quarterback, Jack Semen, connected with Will Kistner for a hat trick of touchdowns during the beating of the Panthers. This win helped keep the Bullets undefeated in conference play.

This was the first game with all the fans and player back in a long time for North Mac. Positive Covid tests and other restrictions prevented the team from playing a normal home game with fans in the stands.

“Atmosphere, excitement. It makes sports what they’re supposed to be,” said Athletic Director, Chris Raynor. “I am happy that we even got to play last year, but it just is not the same without the fans here.”

The packed house was not enough to keep the Bullets out of the end zone early and often however. The Bullets threw for a 40-yard touchdown just 34 seconds into the contest and then returned a Panther punt just a few possessions later making in 14-0 Bullets just three minutes into the game.

North Mac didn’t just lay down and die, however. A brilliant punt pinned the Bullets deep, and North Mac forced a safety with 5:12 left in the first quarter. The Panthers managed to score on the same possession they received the punt from. Making it a 14-8 ballgame with some spare change left in the first quarter.

The Bullets started to assert their dominance in the second quarter, however, with long play after long play starting to wear the Panther defense down. It started to get ugly just midway through the second quarter with Williamsville adding a field goal and two touchdowns in just a span of a few minutes of game clock.

The Panthers tried to keep up with the offensive firepower this quarter, but simply could not and headed to the locker room down 45-22. Not much action took place in the second half, North Mac tried to mount a comeback but simply could not make it happen with the combination of turnovers and being against such a talented opponent.

The well-oiled machine we know Williamsville to be in this conference stood true today as they managed to win a road game in the Sangamon conference which many of us know is not easy to do.

“They’re a good team. We fought hard, and that’s all you can ask for,” said North Mac senior Wyatt Williamson.