PANORA — A stifling defensive effort that held Fort Dodge St. Edmond to only 21 yards of total offense fueled a 25-0 win for host Panorama Friday.
The Panthers yielded just 16 rushing yards on 32 Gael carries and allowed only five yards through the air. Three quarterback sacks (the yardage in high school football is deducted from the rushing totals) helped create the short number, with two interceptions from Lucas Leiferman and a Wyatt Appleseth fumble recovery combining to blunt three FDSE possessions.
“Our defense came out and established the intensity for us,” Panorama head coach Mike Kazlaurich said, “and that lead to a great performance.”
Panorama is starting six new offense and seven defensive starters, and the all-around solid effort drew praise from Kazlaurich.
“Special teams continued to improve throughout the night and the offense started to find their identity,” he said.
Leiferman pulled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Dominic Walker, with Kyle Cogil booting the extra point in the second quarter for the only scoring in the first half.
The hosts extended their lead to 13-0 after three frames when Walker squeezed in from two yards out.
Touchdowns plunges of seven yards and of one yard from Luke South in the fourth quarter moved the Panther advantage to 19-0 and then 25-0, where it remained.
Walker was 20-of-28 for 158 yards and a score through the air while carrying the ball 14 times for 55 yards and a score. Austin Block attempted one pass, which fell incomplete.
Leiferman caught five passes for 45 yards and a TD, with Drew Taylor catching four balls for 28 yards and Zach Rizzuti one ball for 21 yards. Jackson Carstens (5-20), Jack Weinkoetz (3-19), Evan Taylor (1-14) and Josh VanWinkle (1-11) also had receptions.
South had 25 yards and two TDs on seven rushes, with Block gaining 17 yards on three totes. Kade Kemble (11-12), Wyatt Clark (1-5), Rizzuti (2-3) and Weinkoetz (1 for minus-2) also carried the pigskin.
Drew Taylor had eight tackles, including a sack, and Evan Taylor had 5.5 stops and two sacks to pace the defense. Both had three tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Panorama visits NW Webster (an 8-6 winner at Ogden) Friday before returning home to host Interstate-35 Sept. 13.
