Panthers Advance In Section 5 9-Man Playoffs

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Oct 23, 2012

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Tony Deleon’s first season as head coach of the South Ridge Panther high school football team has been a magical one already. The Panthers are on a roll with a record of 8-1 after downing Wrenshall 40-19 in the opening round of the Section 5 nine-man playoffs on Tuesday night.

Kody Karppinen passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns, while Brady Wilton and Devon Lee combined to rush for 185 yards in leading the Panthers to the win.

After a scoreless first quarter the Panthers opened up the scoring with three straight touchdowns to start the second quarter. Karppinen hit Kyle Peterson on a 38-yard touchdown strike and then found Drew Janke on a 25-yard score to get things started offensively. Karppinen also converted a two-point conversion pass to Janke following Peterson’s touchdown to make it 14-0.

Before the second quarter ended the Panthers got a 59-yard touchdown scamper from Wilton and a Karppinen to Janke conversion pass as they build a 22-0 lead. However, the Wrens respond prior to half with a Jack Dolter touchdown pass of 45 yards to Pat Gustafson that cut the lead to 22-7 following the conversion kick.

In the third quarter, the Panthers picked up another score when Karppinen hit Peterson on a 60-yard pass building the lead to 28-7. Again Wrenshall bounced back with a score of their own from Jessie Ellerbe on a 79-yard kickoff return on the following kickoff that cut the margin to 28-13.

Lee added a pair of fourth quarter touchdown runs of 16 and three yards; pushing the score to 40-13 before Wrenshall ended the scoring on a Dolter one-yard plunge.

South Ridge advances to the Semi-Final round of the playoffs and will host #5 seed McGregor at 2:00pm on Saturday in Culver.

In other Section 5 9-Man playoff action Floodwood advances with a 42-6 win over Carlton and will host Cromwell, who advance with a 47-0 win over Silver Bay.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com