WOODWARD — It would be hard to imagine a better start to a football game than the one Woodward-Granger experienced Friday.
W-G (1-3, 0-2) scored on their first offensive snap, then scored defensively on the second snap of the second possession by Panorama (4-0, 2-0) to erupt for a 13-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, the primary reaction from the sudden jolt came not from the hosts but from the visiting Panthers, who responded with five touchdowns in the first half to post a 35-13 lead at the intermission. The guests tacked on two additional TDs in the second half and came away with a 47-13 win that had to have left the Hawks wondering what had just happened.
W-G senior Race Brant returned the opening kickoff to the Panther 17, with sophomore fullback Josh Saak bursting free up the middle to a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage in the game. Cole Moran added the PAT kick for a sudden 7-0 W-G lead.
The teams proceeded to exchange punts, with Panorama’s Gabe Richey running wide off right tackle on the second snap of the second Panther offensive set. Brant ripped the ball from Richey along the far sideline and ran untouched 32 yards for 13-0 Hawk lead.
From there it was all Panorama, who finished with 354 rushing yards and five TDs on 42 carries. Richey led the way with three scores and 105 yards on eight rushes, with Trent Sloss adding a TD along with 104 yards on 15 carries while Matt Webner had a score and 82 yards on six runs.
Aaron Klinge was 3-of-6 for 70 yards in the air, connecting with Levi Leiferman twice for 59 yards — including a 52-yard TD — and once with Reid Cobb for 11 yards.
Panorama also scored when Cameron Allen returned an interception 15 yards for six points. Gunner Grunsted led the defense with seven tackles, with Allen adding 6.5 stops while Klinge also recorded an interception.
The W-G offense struggled to move the ball throughout the contest. Brendan Bird completed just 1-of-10 passes (a 20-yard toss to Johnnie Morgan) while being intercepted twice, with Brant hitting Saak for nine yards and Austin Scharlau for two on his only two attempts.
Sack yardage is deducted from team rushing totals in high school football, resulting in the Hawks gaining just 56 yards on 35 carries. Tanner Vermaas had 48 yards on 17 totes, with Saak adding 21 yards and a touchdown on two rushes while Scharlau ran once for a yard.
Brant returned a fumble 32 yards for a TD, with Tony Santi and Scharlau also falling on Panther fumbles. Morgan led the team with 11.5 tackles, with Saak and Scharlau making seven stops apiece.
Friday will be Homecoming for W-G as they host Southwest Valley at 7 p.m. at Hawk Stadium.
