MANSON — Five turnovers and a lack of production in the ground game combined to place Panorama on the short end of a 28-7 score in a Saturday tussle with NW Webster.
Moved to 5:30 p.m. Saturday due to inclement weather Friday, the Class 1A District 6 meeting saw the hosts control possession and run 24 additional offensive plays than their guests (74-50), eventually wearing down the Panther defense.
The Cougars (4-3, 3-2) were on the board in the first quarter when Reid Steinberg scored on a three-yard plunge, with a two-point conversion making the score 8-0.
Derek Girard hist Blake Larsen with a 13-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, moving the score to 14-0, where it remained until the fourth frame.
Larsen’s 8-yard TD reception of a Girard pass and a two-point conversion widened Panorama’s deficit to 22-0 early in the final period.
Panorama (3-4, 1-4) got on the board when Luke South found Spencer Hunt for a 25-yard TD. Gracen Wellberg hit the PAT to make the score 22-7, but Brian Pearson returned an interception 57 yards later in the quarter to cap the scoring.
The Panthers lost three fumbles and had two interceptions, hampering any hopes of a sustained offensive attack. The rushing game struggled again, producing just 35 yards on 14 carries, with Blaine Barber (2-30) and Gunnar Grunsted (3-14) were the lead rushers.
Luke South was 18-of-32 for 241 yards and one TD while throwing two interceptions.
Conner Meinecke (6-99), Hunt (2-53, 1 TD), Tanner Godfrey (3-40), Wellberg (3-30), Barber (3-14) and Grunsted (1-5) all had receptions.
Grunsted led the defense with 8.5 tackles. Meinecke and Daniel Jensen each had seven tackles, South 6.5 and Trey Cobb six, with South returning an interception 12 yards.
Girard hit on 11-of-15 passes for 115 yards and two scores for the hosts while tossing one interception. Larsen (6-77, 2 TDs) and Keegan Pritchard (3-32) did most of the damage in the passing game.
The Cougars ran 44 times for 181 yards. Steinberg (15-67, 1 TD) and Larsen (13-59) led the way, with Mark Condon adding 38 yards on 12 rushes.
Panorama visits No. 4 Van Meter Friday before wrapping their season Oct. 20 with a visit from West Central Valley.
