The focus of the game, like it was the week before, was on defense after the Panthers had given up 62 points to North Andrew and had to cling by their fingernails to win. While the offense sputtered during the first half, they were still able to get points as Steven Willhite threw scoring strikes of 44 yards to Kaden Koch, 61 yards to Dakota Eaton, and 22 yards to Patrick Cowley. The only tally for Stanberry was a six yard run from Austin Schwebach as the Bulldogs trailed Stanberry 22-6 at the half. Pattonsburg recovered two onsides kicks to keep the ball out of the gold shirts’ hands in the half.
As the Panthers played lock-down defense in the third, the offense slowly came to life as Willhite threw a strike of 45 yards to Cowley and 16 to Koch as the lead grew to 36-6.
At the end of the third quarter, Stanberry put together a good drive, getting as far as the 10 at the end of the period before a lightning delay set in. But after 30 minutes, the lightning moved out of the area, the players were able to get refocused, and deny the Bulldogs thanks to an incomplete pass and a holding penalty that gave the Panthers the ball back on downs.
Pattonsburg’s goal line stand late in the third and early in the fourth opened the floodgates as Patrick Cowley’s catch and run went for 23 yards to the 33. Kaden Koch, converted to receiver for this game, proved an asset in his new position as his ability to drive block and hold his block meant that if he was lined up with Eaton or Cowley, and their man missed the tackle, it meant a long gain or a touchdown.
Two incomplete passes set up third and ten and Eaton caught a pass for five to set up fourth and 5 at the Panther 38. But Cowley got the first down with a six yard pass to the Stanberry 36. Two plays later, with 9:14 left, Willhite aired it out and threw a strike to Cowley, who was covered perfectly, but adjusted and cut in front of his man to take the pass, to the consternation and disbelief of the Bulldog sideline. A decoy play with Cowley and Brody Langfitt worked perfectly as Brody found himself alone in the back of the end zone for a strike to make it 44-6.
The Panther defense, playing without Carter Crone (ankle), saw Kaden de Jong, normally their backup quarterback, step up as a linebacker. He added a lot of muscle in the offseason, and it showed as he delivered two body slams worthy of the WWE in the fourth quarter. Stanberry gave up the ball on downs at the Panther 34 after two long incomplete passes, including a drop.
Dakota Eaton got a 13 yard catch and run and Patrick Cowley had a 12 yard catch and run behind the blocking of Koch before Eaton outran everyone for a long pass from Willhite with 7:26 left to make it 50-6.
Pattonsburg kicked one deep, but Stanberry got new life with a facemask penalty that moved it into Panther territory. They advanced to the 28 on a successful pass, but de Jong body-slammed Schwebach again to set up fourth and four at the Panther 22. Stanberry went to Gavin Cameron, but he was tackled inches short of the first down, and Pattonsburg got the ball back on downs.
The Panthers only needed one play to take advantage, as they isolated Cowley and Koch on the left side for a pass play. Cowley caught the short pass, Koch’s block sprung him loose, and he burst down the sideline for the score and added the extra point pass with 4:56 left.
Stanberry elected to play on, but after they drove from their own 11 to the Pattonsburg 36 in the closing seconds, Brody Langfitt picked off a long pass near the goal line and returned it all the way back to midfield, allowing Pattonsburg to kneel out the clock.
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