Carter Crone Returns as Panthers Rout Stanberry in District Semifinals

Defensive stopper Carter Crone returned for the Pattonsburg Panthers after being out most of the year with an injury and the Panthers had a much easier time of it against Stanberry, winning 74-20 Friday to set up a district championship showdown with Worth County.

Steven Willhite was 26 for 43 for 522 yards and 10 touchdowns. Brody Langfitt rushed six times for 59 yards.

With Crone back, Pattonsburg was able to spread the ball out on offense. Patrick Cowley had 11 catches for 187 yards, Brett Emig had 6 catches for 139 yards, Dakota Eaton had 5 catches for 126 yards, and Carter Crone had 4 catches for 70 yards. Each one of their receivers had at least one catch go for 39 yards or more. Emig caught a 75 yarder from Willhite.

Crone was at full strength for the Stanberry game, as he led the team with 16 tackles. Kaden Koch had 14, Clark Adler 11, Brett Emig 10, Patrick Cowley 8, Dakota Eaton and Collin Briggs 6, Kason Mathes 5, and Brandon Hamilton and Flint Pinkley 1 each.

Stanberry was able to move the ball through the air against Worth County during their comeback bid two weeks before, but Pattonsburg was able to get a heavy rush against them to deny them any comeback tries. They had 8 sacks, led by Kaden Koch with 5, Kason Mathes with 2, and Collin Briggs with 1. Patrick Cowley and Clark Adler had 1 pick each.