NAVAL STATION, Guam — The most important game in Guam High football’s 11-season history, a 36-0 loss to 2003-06 champion George Washington at Naval Station’s Blue Jacket Field, could have resulted in complete disaster for the Panthers.

In Panthers coach Brandon Miller’s mind, though, Guam High (1-1) took away some positives from the defeat.

For one, the Panthers shut out the Geckos (2-1) in the final two quarters. Guam also kept charging back, no matter how many times it got knocked down.

"The kids stayed focused, they showed heart, and that’s the culture we’re trying to change here," said Miller, in his third year with the program and second as head coach. "The story was missed opportunities."

Miller spoke of opportunities such as taking the football inside the Geckos’ 20-yard-line five times — and three times inside the 10 — only to come up empty.

Rome Tenorio set up one of those opportunities by intercepting a pass from Geckos quarterback Ted Nelson and running it back to the 10. The opportunity was wasted when the Panthers were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and moved back to the 25. During another possession, a wide-open Panthers receiver dropped a pass at the Geckos’ 3.

Michael Moser paced the Panthers rushing game with 53 yards on 11 carries. Aaron Cosey completed five of 11 passes for 45 yards in relief of starter Harvey Brunner (3-for-9, 39 yards) in the second half.

Jacob Wright led the Panthers with eight tackles.

As a Gadao Division rival, Guam High gets a chance at redemption when the Panthers travel to GW’s Mangilao campus to face the Geckos on Oct. 18.

"We’ll see them again," Miller said.

Brett Maluwelmeng contributed to this report.

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