Panthers win 24-6 at Brookfield

The PHS football team earned their first Clarence Cannon Conference victory with a 24-6 win at Brookfield Friday.

The Panthers (4-0 overall, 1-0 CCC) learned what it was like to fall behind for the first time this season when the Bulldogs scored a late first-quarter touchdown, but Palmyra then scored four unanswered touchdowns, two on the ground and two in the air to remain unbeaten this season.

Bulldog running back Gabe Rodiguez scored from two yards out with 1:37 left in the first quarter, but it would be the team’s only highlight as the Panther defense clamped down from there.

Palmyra the answered and took the lead in the second quarter on a two-yard touchdown run by running back Wade Begley and a five-yard touchdown pass from Brody Lehenbauer to Zane Meyers to  go up 12-0 by the half.

The Panthers held their two touchdown lead until early in the fourth quarter when Peyton Timbrook broke out for a 31-yard touchdown run.

Lehenbauer and tight end Abe Haerr then hooked up on a 25-yard touchdown pass to cap the scoring with a minute left in the game.

The Palmyra defense ruled supreme, holding Brookfield to just 108 total yards of offense.

The Bulldogs managed just 85 rushing yards on 43 carries, while the Panthers held Brookfield to 23 passing yards on two of seven completions.

Brookfield converted first downs on just four of 14 on third down attempts and earned 11 first downs for the game with two coming on Palmyra penalties.

The Bulldogs leading offensive producer was running back Trace Alexander who ran for just 55 yards on 22 carries.

The team’s longest pass play went for 14 yards.

Meanwhile, Palmyra collected 323 yard of offense including 228 on the ground.

Begley and Timbrook were responsible for all of the running attack with Begley gaining 127 yards on 25 carries and Timbrook 106 on 11 carries.

Lehenbauer completed eight of 15 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Haerr and Hayes Miller both caught two passes for 39 yards to lead the team, while Meyers caught three for 20 yards.

The Panthers stuffed the Bulldogs for eight tackles for losses.

Timbrook led the team with six and half total tackles. Quade Plunkett and Braden Madden shared the team’s lone sack.