LEWISBURG — Even through heavy rain, Tri-County North and Arcanum put up big offensive yardage during their match up on Friday, Sept. 11. The Panthers got the best of the Trojans though, cruising to a 35-14 victory in front of their home crowd.
The win improves North to 2-1 on the year and 2-0 in Cross County Conference play.
“It was a very big win for us with the number of players that we had that were injured,” said TCN head coach Bill Derringer. “It was a great victory for us.”
The Panthers played with eight men on the sideline – including a few key offensive linemen and starting running back Garrett Woodyard.
But North made do, posting 486 yards of total offense against the Trojans. The Panthers had to fight fire with fire though, as their short-handed defense allowed 359 yards on the ground.
The game started off with a long, sustained drive totaling nearly six minutes for Arcanum before they were forced to give the ball back to the Panthers. North then made quick work of the opportunity as quarterback Lane Gunder connected with Colton Scott on a 58-yard pass and catch for a touchdown.
The score gave them a 7-0 lead midway through the period.
Starting out the second quarter, Logan Elmore – playing his new position of running back due to injuries – took the ball 38 yards to pay dirt, increasing the Panther lead to 14-0.
Elmore found success on the ground again, this time taking the ball 42 yards to the house and giving North the three-score advantage.
Arcanum answered with a score of their own, missing the PAT but narrowing the lead to 21-6.
North ended the half on a three minute, 70 yard drive though, that ended with Gunder connecting with Scott for a three yard score and their second touchdown hookup of the game.
They entered the half up 28-6.
After an Arcanum touchdown in the third, Gunder showed off his legs in the fourth as he broke off a bootleg and took it 37 yards for the score. That was the final score of the contest.
“I think Arcanum is a pretty good football team. They opened up with a tough portion of their schedule,” said Derringer. “This Arcanum win as a really big win for us, being shorthanded. That starts us off 2-0 in conference.”
Gunder ended the game going 6-for-10 for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran seven times for 131 yards and another score.
Elmore chipped in 17 carries for 143 yards and two scores, while Scott had two receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns.
North will continue CCC play when it travels to Mississinawa Valley on Friday, Sept. 18, for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
