TRURO — The Interstate-35 defense clamped down on a Panorama offense that had proven explosive in the first two weeks of the season to score a 34-13 victory Friday.
Panorama (2-1) entered the game averaging 46.5 points per game, with averages of 301 rushing and 208 passing yards per contest, but were limited to 118 yards on 39 carries and just 88 yards through the air.
I-35 (3-0) finished with 90 yards passing, but scored four touchdowns while gaining 327 yards on the ground on 37 rushes. Three of the four TD runs were longer than 30 yards.
A 57 yard burst gave the hosts a 6-0 lead after one quarter of play, with a seven-yard scoring pass and a two-yard dive pushing the margin to 20-0 at the intermission.
Alex Mendez scored from one yard away and Gracen Welberg added the PAT kick as the Panthers cut their deficit to 20-7 with the only scoring in the third quarter.
Unfortunately for the guests the Roadrunners were able to strike with a pair of long TD runs in the early portion of the final frame, racing to pay dirt for 32 yards out and then from 76 yards away. Both PAT kicks were good, sending the score to 34-7.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
Mendez capped the scoring by adding a second one-yard run. The conversion failed, establishing 34-13 as the final score.
Mendez was 7-of-12 passing for 50 yards, with Luke South 4-of-10 for 38 yards while being intercepted twice.
Allias Stahl caught three passes for 34 yards and Welberg four for 23 yards to lead the Panther receivers. Spencer Hunt (1-19), Zach Rizzuti (1-10), South (1-5) and Trey Cobb (1 for minus-3) also pulled in aerials.
Mendez carried 15 times for 40 yards and South 15 times for 36 yards to lead the ground attack. Cobb had 29 yards on six rushes, with Hunt running once for seven yards and Rizzuti twice for six yards.
Cobb had a sack and two tackles for a loss while also recovering a fumble, with Rizzuti making an interception and Trent Hambleton two tackles for negative yardage. Cobb’s 10.5 stops led the defense, with Welberg making nine tackles and Hambleton 7.5.
Panorama will host Central Decatur Friday for their Homecoming contest. The Cardinals (0-3) fell to I-35, 26-12, in their first game of the season before suffering a 29-14 loss at Southwest Valley and a 20-12 setback to Mt. Ayr.
