PANORA — The Van Meter football team entered Friday’s game with host Panorama ranked fifth in Class 1A and with a defense that had allowed only six points through seven games. After 48 minutes of play it was evident the Bulldogs were worth all the press they have received, as the 2015 semifinalists dominated the Panthers, 47-0, in their District 6 meeting.
The win sets up a get-there-early showdown in Madrid Friday between the Bulldogs and the third-ranked host Tigers, who defeated Panorama, 35-6, in week three. Van Meter defeated visiting Madrid, 26-20, in the second round of the playoffs last season, but endured no such drama Friday, rolling to a 33-0 halftime lead en route to their seventh shutout of the season.
Luke South was 13-of-26 for 73 yards passing, but was intercepted three times, with two of the thefts returned for touchdowns. Trey Cobb tossed two passes, completing one for four yards.
Garrett Simmons (2-22), Brody Rickheim (5-21), Blaine Barber (2-14), Cobb (3-11), Tanner Godfrey (1-6) and Kolby Burns (1-3) caught passes for the hosts.
Rickheim (11-52) led the Panther rushers, with Cobb (3-9), South (6-8) and Barber (3-2) also carrying the ball.
Gunnar Grunsted had nine tackles, Victor Barroso eight and Jeramy Randol six for the hosts, with Daniel Jensen tallying 3.5 stops with a sack. Grunsted, Randol and Justin Rolfes each recovered a Bulldog fumble.
Blake Fryar hit 11-of-18 passes for 157 yards and a score, with Anthony Lowman hitting Tyler Kubiak for a 23-yard halfback-pass touchdown. J.J. Durflinger (2-53), Nathan Lauterbach (3-33), Carson Rhodes (1-13), Carter Coppinger (1-11), and Lowman (2-35) caught passes, with Connor Guess grabbing a three-yard TD strike from Fryar.
Rhodes ran 30 times for 162 yards and a TD, with Fryar scoring once on 11 carries that covered 31 yards. Quinn Corcoran (3-17), Lowman (1-3) and J.J. Richards (1-2) also had carries, with Brady O’Brien scoring for a yard out on his only carry.
Owen Jones intercepted two passes, returning one 27 yards for a TD and the other for nine yards while O’Brien returned his theft 25 yards for six points. Chris Reames and Joey Staley each recovered a fumble for Van Meter.
Panorama (6-2, 4-2) will be hoping to score a lopsided win over host West Central Valley Friday to increase the odds the team will receive one of two at-large bids to the Class 1A playoffs. The Panthers will need some help in other games, but are still very much alive for post season consideration.
WCV (2-6, 1-5) is coming off a 48-18 loss at South Hamilton. A 35-8 win over Ogden is their lone district victory; the Wildcats scored on a one-yard run in the waning moments of a 69-6 loss to Van Meter to be the only team to dent the Bulldog defense through eight games.
