Trent Hambleton returns an interception for Panorama against Interstate-35 Sept. 30. The Panthers returned two interceptions for scores against host Central Decatur Friday. Photo courtesy Melissa Hochstetler.
LEON — It took some time for the Panorama football team to get going Friday, but once they did the Panthers dominated the airwaves in claiming a 37-22 victory over host Central Decatur.
The first delay had nothing to do with either team, as a power outage delayed the start of the contest for nearly 45 minutes.
Central Decatur was first to score, with Cole Pedersen scoring on a 31-yard run. A Hayden Leymaster conversion run put the hosts ahead, 8-0, but the quarter ended 8-6 after Evan Taylor stepped in front of a Cardinal pass and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown.
Obviously not content to carry only Central Decatur passes to pay dirt, Taylor snared a pair of Dominic Walker aerials in the second quarter, first sprinting 13 yards and then 75 yards for two scores and an 18-8 Panorama lead.
“I thought our offense showed for the first time all year the big play capabilities we had last year,” Panther head coach Mike Kauzlarich said. “I think this is huge for a our team moving forward because we have to be able to stretch the defense horizontally and vertically to open up run lanes in order to make the job easier for our offensive line.”
Walker scored on a four-yard run to put the guests ahead, 24-8, at the intermission, but the guests struggled to move the ball on the ground in the game, finishing with just 57 yards on 24 runs.
Pedersen scored on a seven-yard plunge in the third quarter, with Michel Eversen returning an interception 20 yards for a Cardinal score as the hosts moved to within 24-22 as the third quarter ended.
Lucas Leiferman spread the Panther edge to 30-22 by hauling in a 23-yard scoring strike in the fourth quarter. Zach Rizzuti capped the scoring with a 40-yard interception return later in the frame, with a Kyle Cogil PAT kick setting the final.
Walker finished 15-24-1 for 183 yards and three TDs through the air, with Luke South 0-for-1.
Evan Taylor (2-88, 2 TDs), Jack Weinkoetz and Jackson Carstens (both 4-23), Leiferman (2-29, 1 TD), South (2-17) and Drew Taylor (1-3) all caught passes.
South (11-37), Walker (10-29, 1 TD), Kade Kemble (2-0) and Rizzuti (1, minus-6) ran the ball for the visitors.
“This coming week we have another long road game and travel to Clarinda, who is also 4-0,” Kauzlarich noted. “They are a physical team and are really talented up front on the offense and defensive side of the ball. They have been throwing the ball this year more than previous years in their new system under Coach Bevins. I know they are well disciplined and really have things moving in the right direction in their program and this is going to be a very difficult match up. If we are going to end up walking out of there Friday with a win we will have to play our best game all year at the line of scrimmage with our offensive and defensive line.”
