JACKSON -- First-year head coach Nate Mahon began his second stint with the Little Miami football program on Saturday night, as the Panthers traveled to southeastern Ohio to face Division III powerhouse Jackson. With anticipation high for the season opener, the Panthers won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
Jackson capitalized early, putting together a methodical 12-play, 6-minute opening drive that ended with a touchdown plunge to take a 7-0 lead. Panther Nation waited anxiously to see how Mahon's squad would respond.
Little Miami answered in impressive fashion. On their first possession, the Panthers matched Jackson's physicality and tempo, orchestrating a clock-draining drive of over 7 and a half minutes. Senior running back Lucas Basta capped off the series with a tough run into the end zone, tying the game at 7-7.
But Jackson wasted no time regaining momentum. On their next drive, senior running back Ryan Seimetz broke through the Panther defensive front and sprinted 62 yards for a touchdown with 9:23 remaining in the first half. The two defenses then traded stops for the remainder of the quarter, and the Ironmen carried a 14-7 lead into the locker room.
In the third quarter, Little Miami was forced to punt, and Jackson struck again. This time, quarterback Brody Wolford aired it out, setting up Seimetz's second touchdown of the night, which extended the Ironmen's lead to 21-7 with 4:06 left in the third.
But the Panthers weren't done yet. After several back-and-forth possessions, Coach Mahon leaned on his coaching philosophy and stuck to the ground game. Behind a rejuvenated offensive line, senior quarterback Camden Fox found a rhythm and punched it in on a keeper to cut the deficit to 21-14 with just under six minutes to play.
On the next drive, the Panther defense came up with a crucial stop, forcing Jackson to turn the ball over on downs near midfield. With momentum finally on their side, Little Miami turned again to Basta, who led a determined march into Ironmen territory. But just when it looked like the Panthers might complete the comeback, a tipped pass found the outstretched hands of Jackson defensive back C.J. Crabtree, sealing the win for the home team.
Despite the narrow loss, there were plenty of positives for the Panthers. Little Miami totaled 167 rushing yards—their highest total since Week 10 of the 2022 season, when they defeated Walnut Hills 27-21 behind 178 yards on the ground.
As the Panthers prepare to open ECC play in Week 2 against Turpin on Hall of Fame Night, it's clear that the ground-and-pound philosophy is here to stay. Under Mahon's leadership, this team has embraced a new identity focused on execution, resilience, and a never-quit mentality.
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