Bay Area Panthers - The Golden Bay Times

1 Bay Area Panthers
13‑4 / .765

2 Vegas Knight Hawks
13‑6 / .684

3 San Diego Strike Force
11‑7 / .611

4 Arizona Rattlers
10‑7 / .588

5 Tucson Sugar Skulls
6‑10 / .375

6 San Antonio Gunslingers
5‑11 / .312

7 Northern Arizona Wranglers
2‑14 / .125

1 Quad City Steamwheelers
12‑6 / .667

2 Green Bay Blizzard
12‑7 / .632

3 Tulsa Oilers
10‑7 / .588

4 Jacksonville Sharks
10‑7 / .588

San Jose, CA - Spotted a 14-0 hole early, the Bay Area Panthers turned the night into a roller coaster, yet Vegas slipped away 36-31 in a first round playoff tilt rich with momentum swings. The Knight Hawks opened with a Ja’Rome Johnson one yard plunge and a Jayden de Laura 19 yard scramble, then stretched it on a CJ Windham Jr nine yard grab for 20-0. Bay Area snapped awake behind Josh Jones, who powered in from nine, executed an onside kick, then endured a gut punch when defensive back James Ceasar ripped the ball out and ran it back for 26-7. The Panthers punched right back, getting a Tosin Oyekanmi burst, a safety, and a Joshua Tomas three yard score with an old school drop kick to pull within 26-24 before Ben Derby’s field goal made it 29-24 at the break. After halftime, Johnson found Quentin Randolph to push the gap to 36-24, and Jones answered with a dart to Tyrese Chambers. The final fifteen devolved into defense and missed chances; a late heave from midfield died in traffic, and Vegas celebrated the first playoff win in its history while Bay Area was left staring at the narrowest of exits.

Lowell, MA - Bay Area’s tough-as-nails squad wrapped up the regular season with a swaggering 45-30 win over Massachusetts, sealing a league-best 13-3 record. From the get-go, the Panthers’ defense flipped the script, as Joe Foucha bailed the Pirates out of rhythm with back-to-back interceptions, even before the Pirates had time to say “Tagovailoa.” Josh Jones needed just one pass, one, to connect with Tyrese Chambers for a 31-yard score, putting the Panthers swiftly up 7-0 and launching Chambers toward a season-high 15 receiving TDs. Backup QB Liam Thompson took the wheel and delivered a touchdown on the ground, plus another through the air to Chambers, really letting the offense breathe while Goodman popped in his first career TD.

San Diego, CA - In a wild, blink and you’ll miss it finish, the Bay Area Panthers squeezed past the Vegas Knight Hawks 55 to 54 in a game that felt like it was edited for maximum drama. Quarterback Josh Jones starred with six total touchdowns, three through the air and three on the ground, carrying the team on his back and under pressure like a seasoned matador evading a charging bull. The Knight Hawks, refusing to go quietly, marched downfield late and threw a last ditch touchdown with virtually no time remaining, then stared down a game winning two point conversion that slid through their fingers in the end zone. When the dust settled, the Panthers emerged victorious and airtight at 11 and 3, securing the Western Conference’s top seed and making their home finale feel like a cliffhanger turned explosion of elation. It was the kind of contest that leaves fans gasping and columnists scrambling for superlatives, with pressure cooker intensity, bold leadership from Jones, and a last minute collapse by Vegas that made it one of the most memorable finishes of the season.

San Diego, CA - The Bay Area Panthers put their claws to work in a bruising battle, but the San Diego Strike Force ultimately pounced with a narrow yet decisive win, 46–38. It was a back and forth affair that saw the Panthers claw back from a 24–7 halftime hole, sparked by three second half touchdown connections from Josh Jones to Trevon Alexander, backed by clutch kicks from Axel Perez and a stingy defensive front led by Wes Bowers, Jonathan Ross, and Joe Foucha. Still, turnovers proved the Panthers’ Achilles' heel as they committed four in total, and none bigger than the interception that set the tide in San Diego’s favor. The Strike Force, conversely, turned those Panther miscues into scoreboard grist and remained dangerous behind Nate Davis’ composure and his unit’s knack for converting crunch time downs. While the Panthers demonstrated heart, their inability to protect the football kept them from stealing this one, dropping them to a 10–3 record and ending their winning streak with a stinging loss in Oceanside.

San Antonio, TX - When the Bay Area Panthers and Northern Arizona Wranglers decided to turn up the drama, the Panthers delivered a quad quarter spectacle that felt part slugfest, part strategic chess match. Trailing early, they clawed back with a slick 14 point second quarter, setting the stage for a cagey third. But it was the explosive fourth quarter, 18 points on a mix of scrappy runs and precision passing, that put the Wranglers to bed, turning a tense nine point game into a solid 41–30 Panthers victory. Josh Jones pulled triple duty as both aerial architect and ground game bruiser, tossing three TD passes while rumbling for nearly 100 yards and two more majors on the ground. Meanwhile Ramone Atkins did his part for the Wranglers, carving up the field with 170 passing yards and two touchdowns, but he could not outgun the Panthers’ fourth quarter blitz. It is the kind of win that reminds you why you stay glued to arena football tables, because when the Panthers hit stride, they do not just play, they feast.

San Jose, CA - When the Panthers finally decided to show up, they delivered a statement performance that put the Rattlers firmly back in their cage. The game unfolded like a choppy indoor thriller: both teams knotted at ten before the Panthers rattled off a 17 point third quarter and refused to let up. Josh Jones was savvy and steady under center, orchestrating drives that kept the Rattlers guessing, while Joshua Tomas ground out yardage like an unstoppable brick wall, finding pay dirt and setting the tone. Tyrese Chambers then sealed the deal with a late scrambling TD that iced it. Arizona managed to claw back with a late touchdown, but Bay Area answered swiftly and decisively, turning a tight contest into a comfortable 37-24 triumph. With that win, they evened their season series with their in state rivals and pushed the all time matchup to a dead even knot, four wins apiece. This was not just a victory, it was a statement that the Panthers are growing into their swagger when it matters most.

Las Vegas, NV - In a gritty, high-octane clash, the Panthers flexed both muscle and finesse to tame the Knight Hawks in a 44–31 victory that felt more like a statement than a statement piece. From the very first whistle the Panthers’ defense looked like it raided the Knight Hawks’ playbook, shutting them out for a full half and forcing a fumble, three stops, and even a missed field goal. But by the time offense finally stepped up, it was full throttle: Josh Jones and Joshua Tomas turned targets into totals, combining for over 90 receiving yards and timed touchdowns that underlined just how lethal the Panthers could be when they were dialed in, especially Tomas, who snagged multiple grabs including a long one for a score. Vegas fought back in the second half with two Johnson bullets and a few swift counters that made it clear the Hawks were not just here for the ride. Yet it was too little, too late, as the Panthers had already spread the field, thrown the gauntlet and left Henderson with that sweet taste of road-warrior triumph.

Tulsa, OK - The Bay Area Panthers pulled off a heart-pounding 44-41 win over Tulsa in a game that felt less like a contest and more like a gladiator showdown, offense and defense matching each other blow for blow in a master class of indoor football. Josh Tomas showed why he’s the spark this offense needs, lighting it up with multiple touchdowns and juggling runs and receptions like a circus pro, while Josh Jones orchestrated drives that felt impossibly composed when every second counted. On the other sideline, Tulsa’s quarterback TJ Edwards kept his team in the hunt with both legs and laser precise throws, his aerial TDs to Cole Blackman and a ground score snapped what otherwise was a Panther dominated opening. But Bay Area’s special teams threw the real curveball when Franky West Jr. turned a kickoff recovery into a kick six touchdown, swinging momentum in a heartbeat. Add timely stops from Trae Meadows and Joe Foucha sealing turnovers in the closing stretch, and you’ve got a victory forged in grit. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement that the Panthers thrive under pressure, and they’ll be gunning for more.

San Antonio, TX - The Bay Area Panthers didn’t so much beat the Gunslingers as take their bullets and write poetry with them, rolling to a 55–26 win powered by a ruthlessly balanced offense and a defense that shut the door when it mattered. Quarterback Josh Jones was the metronome, tossing four touchdowns without a pick and adding a bruising keeper at the goal line, while the ground game stacked 152 yards and four scores to keep San Antonio wobbling. Trevon Alexander turned the wall into a poster with three touchdown grabs, and Joshua Tomas played double duty with a short plunge and a 19 yard scoring catch, the kind of versatility that breaks game plans and patience. The Panthers never punted, went a perfect six for six in the red zone, and won the efficiency battles that usually decide indoor football, from third down conversions to taking the ball away twice. By the time Liam Thompson muscled in late, the result felt less like a road test and more like a statement that last year’s champions still carry the sharpest claws in the room, and they’re comfortable carving wins with either fist, air or earth.