Imhotep batters Bristol

On his team's first play from scrimmage, less than four minutes into a nonleague game against Bristol, Imhotep Charter's Christopher Lewis took a quick two-step drop and lofted a pass up the right sideline to senior wideout Devin Sanders for a 47-yard touchdown.

That play ignited a prolific day through the air for Lewis and the Panthers, who steamrolled a smaller Bristol squad, 38-14, in the teams' season opener Friday afternoon at Benjamin L. Johnston Field in Germantown.

Lewis, a senior and three-year starter, finished the game with 215 yards passing, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Lewis was able to be effective because of a stout offensive line.

Just six days prior, Imhotep and Bristol scrimmaged, with Bristol coming away with the upper hand. In that exhibition, Imhotep coach Marc Wilson said he noticed holes in Bristol's secondary.

"Our game plan was to come out throwing the ball, slinging," Wilson said standing at midfield after the game.

Bristol's approach was a polar opposite. The Warriors attempted just four passes (all incomplete), working in a spread offense. Senior fullback Andy Perseponko led Bristol with 56 yards rushing on 13 attempts, but found it difficult to make large gains against the much bigger Imhotep team. Imhotep's size made Bristol look like a junior-varsity team that was physically overmatched from the outset.

The Panthers' athletic advantage was most evident on one play late in the second quarter. Lined up in the shotgun, Lewis fumbled the snap, recovered the ball, briefly looked upfield, and flung a pass that was caught by junior receiver Jamal Johnson, who had two defenders in his face, for a 79-yard touchdown pass.

Johnson finished the day with 84 yards receiving. Second in receiving for Imhotep was Sanders, who had 66 yards on two catches.

Lewis' aerial attack was backed up by an equally impressive ground game that bruised its way to several long runs both up the middle and down the sidelines.

Senior Maurice Palmer led all players with 73 yards rushing on 11 carries and a touchdown. Sophomore Eerin Young added 39 yards on just four carries.

"People know us as a pass-first team, but we're going to change that," Wilson said. "We have some dynamic backs."

One bright spot for Bristol on an otherwise demoralizing afternoon was an 88-yard kickoff return by senior Unique Barnes, who was pushed out of bounds at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, tailback Tyree Barnes punched the ball in for a touchdown.

Bristol   7 0 0 7 – 14

Imhotep   6 24 8 0 – 38

I: Sanders 47 pass from Lewis (run failed)

B: Bradley 5 run (Rigby kick)

I: Palmer 5 run (Sanders run)

I: Johnson 79 pass from Lewis (Young run)

I: Boone 2 with fumble (Boone pass from Lewis)

I: Parker 19 pass from Lewis (Creamer-Sweet run)

B: Barnes 1 run (Rigby kick)