STUART — Panorama lifted their overall mark to 3-2 with an easy 46-0 win over host West Central Valley Friday.
The Panthers held a 13-0 lead after one quarter of play, with four additional touchdowns in the second quarter forcing open a 39-0 gap at the intermission. That established a continuous clock for the remainder of the game, with Panther reserves on the field for large chunks of the game, the guests tacking on a final score in the third period.
Panorama was missing seven starters for the game, with head coach Mike Kauzlarich expressing his pleasure with how the substitute starters and reserves played. Kauzlarich noted every player gained varsity playing time for the Panthers.
Quarterback Dominic Walker and receiver Drew Taylor both excelled. Walker is second in Class 1A in passing yards (1,061) and all-purpose yards (1,291) and is tied for third with 10 passing TDs. Taylor is tied for third with five receiving TDs and is second in receiving yards with 369.
“We really put an emphasis this week on being efficient and committing to putting drives together,” Kauzlarich said. “Defensively it was our second consecutive shut out. Our guys are playing with a chip on their shoulder and are eager to prove themselves. Our defense is the strength of our team and something our players and coaches take a lot of pride in.”
Taylor pulled in a 28-yard TD pass as the guests quickly took a 6-0 lead, with Wyatt Clark adding a two-yard run minutes later.
The score swelled to 25-0 after Preston Walker pulled in scoring aerials of 41 yards and then of 18 yards in the second stanza. Taylor found the end zone on a 79-yard pass for a 32-0 lead, then stepped in front of a WCV pass and returned the interception 26 yards for another score to establish the 39-0 halftime lead.
A 15-yard scoring strike to Evan Taylor in the third quarter capped the scoring.
Dominic Walker was 16-of-19 for 347 yards and five TDs through the air while rushing five times for 43 yards.
Drew Taylor (4-127, 2 TDs), Evan Taylor (6-128, 1 TD), and Preston Walker (3-59, 2 TDs) led the receiving corps. Ryan Klinge (16 yards), Zach Rizzuti (14), Gavin Godfrey (7) and Clark (3) each caught a single pass.
Clark (5-24, 1 TD), Hunter Paulery (4-18), and Rizzuti (1-14) led the Panther ground attack.
Evan Taylor had five tackles, Wyatt Appleseth 4.5 and Ryan Klinge four to pace the defensive effort.
“Next week we play AC/GC for Homecoming,” Kauzlarich said. “It is always a fun game, and with the schools being only eight miles apart, a lot of the kids know each other. They have been surfing through the season and we are going to need to knock them off their board.”
The Chargers are 2-3 overall. They opened with a 31-28 loss at Earlham and with a 43-7 win at Central Decatur before falling, at home, to Woodward-Granger, 27-14. A 35-0 home win over Kuemper Catholic followed, with No. 2 Van Meter defeating visiting AC/GC, 46-12, Sept. 25.
