Things could not have gone worse for the Jordan Panthers on Friday night against Pasadena.  In the process of losing their first game of the year, 19-16, senior quarterback and safety John Timu left the game on the seventh play of the night with a knee injury.  After rolling out to avoid pressure, Timu tried to cut back up the field and went down.

Running back Vincent Porter put the Panthers up with a first quarter and they took a lead into the locker room.  But in the second half, Timu’s absence was evident on both sides of the ball. 

On a third and long, Pasadena sent the slot receiver straight up the seam between the two deep safeties.  Timu would normally be there to break the pass up, but he had to watch from the sideline as Pasadena scored to take the lead.

After a Keith Nixon touchdown pulled Jordan within three points in the fourth quarter, the Panther defense forced a three-and-out to give the offense a chance for a game-winning drive.  However, a fumble foiled those plans and Pasadena ran the clock out.

“We really beat ourselves tonight,” said Jordan coach Scott Meyer, whose team turned the ball over four times.  “The penalties, and letting them convert all those third-and-longs… we didn’t play hard or smart, and you need one of those to win.”

We will have more information concerning Timu and his knee later today.