STUART — Panorama did all they could to improve their chances for one of two Class 1A At-Large playoff spots by whipping West Central Valley, 44-0, Friday.
Unfortunately, the Panthers (7-2, 5-2) finished with 7.29 playoff points, trailing West Lyon (10.14) and West Branch (9.71), both of whom earned spots. Wilton (8.71) also had more points. West Lyon lost to teams that finished the regular season ranked third and seventh, while three-loss West Branch lost to the eighth-rated team and two unranked teams but still qualified, leaving Wilton (losses to No. 1 and No. 9) and Panorama (losses to No. 4 and No. 6) sitting home this week.
Panorama jumped on WCV (2-7, 1-6) in the first quarter when Gunnar Grunsted scored on a 38-yard pass from Luke South, with Michael Allen booting the PAT.
The margin went to 14-0 early in the second frame when South scored on a seven-yard run, with a 28-yard Allen field goal pushing the score to 17-0 moments later. Grunsted’s 34-yard TD reception from South and Ondrej Komora’s PAT kick giving the Panthers a 24-0 lead at the intermission.
Grunsted scored on a four-yard run and Komora added the kick to set the score after three periods at 31-0.
A three-yard South scamper and a six-yard pass from South to Garrett Simmons, along with a Komora kick on the South TD, finished the scoring.
WCV made little headway at any point in the game. Knick Badker was 13-29-2 for 88 passing yards, with Cody Hansen 1-2-1 for 15 yards.
Receptions for the hosts went to Brock Wolfe (5-40), Brice Sechrist (3-29), William Larson (3-20), Jeff Salazar (1-10) and Cole Arnburg (2-4).
Salazar carried eight times for 24 yards and Hansen twice for two yards.
Hansen returned an interception 35 yards, with Alan Wallace recovering a fumble. Eleven tackles from Hansen topped the WCV defense, with Carsen Schneller credited with nine tackles (five for a loss, including two sacks).
Tanner Godfrey has two interceptions for the Panthers, with South picking off one pass while Trey Cobb and Victor Barroso fell on fumbles. South, Simmons and Grunsted each had four tackles to lead the Panthers.
South finished 16-26-1 for 225 yards and three TDs through the air. He connected with Grunsted (4-93, 2 TDs), Simmons (7-64, 1 TD), Cobb (4-54) and Godfrey (1-14).
Allen ran three times for 69 yards, with Grunsted (15-45, 1 TD), South (17-27, 2 TDs), Blaine Barber (5-15) and Cobb (6-10) were also handed the ball.
