PANORA — Friday’s season opening game between Des Moines Christian and host Panorama was over before it was half over, as the Panthers dominated play in opening a 42-0 halftime lead. With a continual clock rolling in the second half, the Panthers went to as young a lineup as possible, tacking on a final touchdown in the third quarter and strolling to a 49-0 victory.
Fifteen different Panthers had at least one carry of the football, with the team rushign 48 times for 335 yards and six scores.
Brody Rickheim scored twice and gained 73 yards on eight carries with Gunnar Grunsted rushing 10 times for 51 yards. Other top ball carriers included quarterback Luke South (7-60, 1 TD), Blaine Barber (3-34, 2 TDs) and Benny Barroso (3-10, 1 TD).
Barber also caught three passes for 32 yards and returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown. Conner Meinecke caught one aerial for eight yards, with South 4-of-10 for 40 yards in a limited passing role.
Freshman Zach Rizzotti intercepted a Lion pass and returned the ball 19 yards, with freshman Domonic Walker landing on a fumble. Grunsted and Trey Cobb each had 3.5 tackles to pace the defense.
South started the scoring with a 12-yard TD run in the first quarter, with Michael Allen adding the PAT kick. Barber’s punt return followed, with the kick failing, leaving the Panthers with a 13-0 lead after one frame.
Rickheim scored from two yards out, Barber from 22 and Rickheim from 48, with three Allen PAT boots moving the score to 34-0 in the second quarter. Barber added a seven-yard TD spurt, with Tanner Godfrey running in a two-point conversion to set the halftime score at 42-0.
Barroso capped the scoring with a one-yard dive in the third quarter, with Daniel Jensen connecting on the PAT kick.
Panorama will visit Woodward this Friday to face the Woodward Academy, who dropped a 40-32 decision to Ogden in their first game. The Panthers will travel to Madrid Sept. 8 (W-G stopped Madrid, 26-6, Friday), with Ogden coming to Panora Sept. 15 for Homecoming.
