JEWELL — Panorama’s thin, but viable, hopes for a postseason placing all but evaporated Friday with an 18-15 loss to host South Hamilton.
The Hawks (4-1, 2-1) held a 12-7 halftime lead and were in front, 18-7, entering the final quarter. The Panthers (3-2, 1-2) scored to close to within 18-15, but could not complete the rally and fell short.
The hosts led, 6-0, on a nine-yard run in the first quarter, but Luke South connected with Conner Meinecke for a 33-yard touchdown pass midway through the frame, with Michael Allen’s PAT giving Panorama a 7-6 lead.
A 14-yard TD pass — the only completion of the game for the Hawks — created the 12-7 halftime lead for the home crew.
After a short run pushed the score to 18-7 in the third period, Panorama responded in the fourth stanza when South hit Barber for a 13-yard score. Trey Cobb’s conversion run brought the guests to within tying field goal range of Allen, but the Panthers were unable to finish off the rally.
South was 17-29-2 through the air for 206 yards and two scores. He also ran for a team-best 34 yards on 10 rushes.
Barber caught eight balls for 89 yards and a score and Meinecke four aerials for 58 yards and a TD, with Tanner Godfrey (3-33), Gunnar Grunsted (1-16) and Spencer Hunt (1-10) also catching passes.
The ground game was limited to only 68 yards on 23 total carries. Brody Rickheim (7-18), Barber (2-10), Grunsted (2-6), Allen (1-2) and Cobb (1 for minus-2) had the other rushes beside those taken by South.
Grunsted led the defense with 11.5 tackles, with Cobb making 8.5 stops and Connor Powell seven. South had an interception, returning the pick 25 yards.
South Hamilton ran 54 times for 318 yards. While each team had 17 first downs and Panorama ran only one additional play (64 to 63) turnovers plagued the Panthers, who coughed up the ball three times to just once for the hosts.
Penalties, as they have all season, continued to hurt Panorama more than the opposition. South Hamilton was flagged seven times for 34 yards, but Panorama lost 91 yards on 11 infractions.
Individual statistics for South Hamilton were not available.
Panorama returns home Friday to host Eagle Grove (3-2, 0-2). The Eagles opened district play with a 41-20 win at West Central Valley but have since lost home contests to NW Webster (21-6) and No. 4 Van Meter (37-0).
