CANTON, Ohio — Every year in early August, fans from all over the country make the trip to Canton, Ohio, to celebrate the new class of Pro Football Hall of Famers. The quiet city happens to be the birthplace of professional football and houses the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The entire weekend is a celebration of the NFL and has become a signature way to start the football season. The first game of the season is then played on Thursday, kicking off the festivities of the weekend and the official start to the NFL Preseason.
This year’s Hall of Fame game featured the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. As is tradition, teams are chosen that have inductees in the year’s HOF class. Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals and Luke Kuechly of the Panthers prompted this year’s matchup.
As is customary in a game like this, the two teams opted to sit many of their key players, including both starting quarterbacks. That lined up Kenny Pickett of the Panthers to start against rookie Carson Beck of the Cardinals.
The first quarter did not see any scoring, but things picked up quickly in the second. Beck, the rookie who led Miami to the National Championship last season, looked sharp in his NFL Preseason debut. He connected for 11 of 14 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
Local product Trevor Etienne got some work with the Panthers. The Jennings High School product rushed four times for 12 yards in the opening half. Haynes King tossed a touchdown pass for the Panthers while AJ Dillon ran for one. The teams entered halftime tied 17-17.
King and the Panthers scored on their first drive of the second half, taking a 24-17 lead.
Down the stretch, the game had plenty of intrigue. Despite being a “meaningless” early preseason game, Arizona drove down to take the lead. Still, King and the Panthers answered again. The game winning touchdown drive ended with a King five yard TD run. That gave the Panthers a 33-30 win.
One thing is for sure: football is BACK.