PANORA — No team in Iowa will face the level of competition that Panorama will have at the conclusion of Friday’s game.
Panorama was 8-2 last year, falling in the first round of the playoffs. Currently 1-1 after a 41-31 win over Clarinda last Friday, the season began with a 20-14 home loss to Grundy Center (2-0). Now a home game with Van Meter (2-0) awaits.
Grundy Center is top-ranked in Class A, where they are the defending state runner-up, while Van Meter (ranked in the top three depending upon poll) is the 1A defending state runnerup.
Van Meter owns wins of 33-14 at Winterset and of 44-0 over Earlham.
Quarterback Jack Pettit is 13-of-16 for 207 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 16 times for 184 yards and two scores. Dalten Van Pelt leads the ground attack with 196 yards and six TDs on 29 hauls.
Panther quarterback Dominic Walker has connected on 30-of-52 passes. He has been picked off once, but has 510 aerial yards and four TDs. Walker has run 32 times for 149 yards and two scores.
Drew Taylor has caught eight passes for 179 yards and three TDs to lead a talented receiving corps. Preston Walker (7-103), Evan Taylor (5-92), and Hunter Pauley (5-70, 1 TD) have also been heavily involved.
Friday’s game is the Class 1A District 8 opener for both teams. Panorama visits a strong Woodward-Granger squad Sept. 18 before traveling to West Central Valley Sept. 25. The seven-game regular season will end after an Oct. 2 visit from AC/GC and a home date with Kuemper Catholic Oct. 9.
