WOODWARD — A long-awaited showdown in Class 1A District 8 lived up to the pre-game billing Friday, with Panorama and host Woodward-Granger engaging in a brutal, hard-hitting affair that saw both defenses largely stifle the opposing offense.
The teams battled to a scoreless first half, but Panorama found the end zone in the third quarter and added a field goal in the fourth to claim an exhausting 10-0 win. The Panthers improved to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in district play, with W-G now 3-1 and 1-1 in D8 action.
“W-G was 3-0 coming into the contest and had been showing great defense with a potent offense,” Panorama head coach Mike Kauzlarich said. “We knew it was going to be a tough, competitive contest.”
W-G entered the game averaging 39 points per game while allowing just 11, with Panorama scoring 55 points and allowing 81 in three games. The Hawks saw their powerful rushing game, averaging 205 yards per outing, held to just 41 yards on 31 carries while Panorama gained just 46 yards on 31 runs, with lost yardage to sacks and a poor snap hampering the numbers of both teams.
“Our defense came out and played lights out,” Kauzlarich said. “We had guys flying around making plays and causing havoc. Our defense really looked fast tonight.”
W-G’s first three opponents had a combined 4-6 record after Friday play, with Panorama’s foes 9-3. The Panthers had been tested by Class A top-ranked Grundy Center (a 20-14 loss) and 1A No. 2 Van Meter (a 40-0 setback), both 2019 state runner-up teams, and that was likely a factor.
Both teams had long passes intercepted in the early stages of the first quarter, with both discovering that the opposing defense was simply not likely to budge when it came to surrendering yardage on the ground.
The Hawks were dressed in their traditional green and gold, with the Panthers in blue and white, but it was yellow that made its presence known. The officials obviously decided not to be overlooked, and threw 24 flags in the game, breaking the any rhythm either offense tried to find. Panorama was flagged 11 times for 70 yards and W-G 13 times for 95 yards, both well over the average number of infractions per game either team had experienced.
Panorama finally broke through in the third quarter, with quarterback Dominic Walker finding Evan Taylor in the flat. Taylor made one man miss, then outran the defense down the far sideline for a 45-yard touchdown. Walker added the extra point to put the score at 7-0.
Both teams began to slowly find their way offensively, but never enough to maintain a sustained drive, repeated flags helping to stall drives from both teams.
Panorama penetrated deep into W-G territory in the fourth frame, but fine defensive plays from Garrett Burkhart and Jack Muesberger forced the Panthers to try a field goal. Walker was up to the challenge, sending the ball between the pipes from 28 yards away to establish a 10-0 lead, where it remained.
The Panthers were missing several key players in the 40-0 loss to Van Meter, with some playing Friday in unusual positions.
“A lot of guys continue to step up and play some different roles due to missing a few players,” Kauzlarich said. “The offense took a while on Friday to get traction and put drives together. We would move the ball in the first half and then stall out due to miscommunication or a penalty. Our games stuck with it and we were able to get on the same page coming out of half for a touchdown drive, and later had the field goal.”
W-G head coach George Ashman was not available for comment.
Trevor Simmons was 5-of-22 for 93 yards with one interception. Worth Henry caught three passes for 68 yards, with Kade Polich (1-14) and Carter Moran (1-11) also making catches.
Jake Lego (19-54) led the ground game for W-G, with Christian Husmann (1-18) and Kade Polich (2-2) also running the ball.
Walker was intercepted three times for the Panthers but his 11-of-19 passes for 204 yards, including a touchdown.
Evan Taylor had five receptions for 97 yards and a TD, with Drew Taylor pulling in a pass for 63 yards. Zach Rizzuti (3-22), Lucas Leiferman (1-23), and Hunter Pauley (one catch, minus-1 yard) all caught Walker aerials.
Walker (18-38), Pauley (5-22), Wyatt Clark (5-12), Cooper Andersen (1-5) and Wyatt Appleseth (1-0) had carries for the guests.
Moran (1-10), Henry (1-5) and Brody Nardini (1-0) had interceptions for the W-G defense, with Simmons recovering a fumble while Muesberger had two sacks and Burkhartt and Dane Polich one sack each.
Nardini had 7.5 tackles, Dustin Harney 6.5 and Henry 5.5 to pace the defense.
Trent Hambleton (7), Evan Taylor (6) and Pauley (5) were the lead Panther tacklers, with Hambleton making two sacks and Drew Taylor and Brice Taylor one each. Rizzuti (1-15) had an interception for the guests.
W-G will celebrate Homecoming Friday with a visit from Kuemper Catholic (1-3, 1-1), with Panorama visiting West Central Valley (1-3, 0-2).
