By BILL CROMARTIE

There were no signs of opening night stage fright for Southwest DeKalb as the Panthers scored the first time they got the ball this new season and went on to drub Druid Hills 18-0 Friday at Panthersville Stadium.

Taking the kickoff, Southwest had a touchdown in just over five minutes when quarterback Martin Snider passed six yards to Justin Burns. Nobody was aware of it at the time, but that was all the Panthers needed this particular evening.

Southwest DeKalb head coach Dewey Alverson took the victory with caution, stating after his team’s win, “This one is over, we start all over again Monday. Our offense could never get started, but we really hit well.”

And that the defense did, allowing the visiting Red Devils only 57 total yards. In fact, during the third quarter, Druid Hills’ Andy Hall recovered a fumble on the Panther five yard line. However, four plays later, the SW defense led by the front four of David Beason, Kenny Mobley, Ross Neal and Leon Claiborn had pushed the Devils back to the 11.

The Panthers made it 12-0 in the second quarter when a Snider-to-Burns pass gained 44 yards to the Devil 16. Snider then hit Downing at the three from where Snider scored on a quarterback sneak.

In less than two minutes, the Panthers were on the boards again. Druid Hills, attempting to punt from its own end zone, had to run out because of a high snap. Taking over at the four yard line, Snider scored again on a keeper.