XAVIER JUDKINS (right) and Cavon Etter celebrate after Judkins caught his second touchdown of the night against Armijo.

Nothing has come easy for Benicia High’s football team this season.

The Panthers thought they had it easy up by 24 points with under six minutes remaining Friday night against host Armijo. But the Indians rallied for two touchdowns and a pair of 2-point conversions in less than three minutes, and it wasn’t until Benicia linebacker Jalen Lane intercepted a pass at Benicia’s 17-yard line with 53.4 seconds left that the Panthers managed to escape with a 24-16 victory.

It was the eighth straight time Benicia has beaten Armijo, but it took five Indians turnovers – including four interceptions – for the Panthers to put them away.

“Five turnovers and you only win 24-16 isn’t a good day,” said Benicia head coach Craig Holden. “We did enough to win the game but not enough to win a whole lot of games. We have to do a lot better to continue to win.”

“We got too comfortable,” Lane said. “We played with a lot of intensity in the first half, but the second half we let them come back.”

It was a costly win for the Panthers (2-2). Senior lineman B.J. Washington injured his back late in the first half and starting quarterback Devin Holden was knocked out of the game early in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers got off to a strong start with touchdowns on their first two possessions. A 27-yard pass from Holden to Kyani McFall set up Holden for a 20-yard TD run, and the senior added a 31-yard TD pass to Xavier Judkins for a 12-0 lead with 52 seconds left in the first quarter. When Cavon Etter scored from a yard out midway through the second quarter, Benicia had a commanding 18-0 lead at the break.

“We played pretty decent football in the first half and then the wheels came off,” coach Holden said. “I don’t know if the kids thought they’d won the game already and mailed it in. It was a frustrating game.”

After Devin Holden was injured, senior Joseph Lee stepped in and tossed a 16-yard TD pass to Jenkins for a 24-0 lead with six minutes remaining.

“I get reps in at practice and I’m always making sure I know what’s going on so I’ll be ready in these situations,” Lee said.

Benicia’s defense appeared headed for its second shutout in three weeks until Armijo quarterback Tariq Eid hit David Reyes for a 58-yard touchdown. Douglas Edwards ran in the 2-point conversion to trim Benicia’s lead to 24-8 with 5:32 left. After Benicia’s offense went three-and-out, Eid completed three straight passes, the last one a 14-yard TD to Logan Urricelqui, who out-jumped two defenders for the score. Armon Speaks ran in another 2-point conversion and suddenly Benicia led by only eight with 3:08 remaining.

“We let them back in the game and they got momentum and we couldn’t get it back,” coach Holden said.

Benicia’s offense went three-and-out again, and a 30-yard pass from Eid to Javion Smith put the Indians at the Panther 25 with a minute left. But Lane read Eid’s next pass, stepping in front of an Indians receiver for his second interception of the night and securing Benicia’s second win of the season.

“They were throwing balls right in the middle so I knew to just stay in that area,” Lane said. “I had to step up for my team so we could pull out the W.”

Lane’s twin brother – Jeremiah – had an interception and a fumble recovery. He also returned an interception for a touchdown but had it called back due to a roughing-the-passer penalty. Phoenix McGee intercepted a pass at Benicia’s 20-yard line on Armijo’s second series of the second half.

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