Panthers display big play offense, big stop defense in 35-24 loss to undefeated Centralia

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.

Email

Submit

← Back

by Mark Cheffey

The PHS varsity football team could not pull out a win, but did show some big play offense and big stop defense in a 35-24 loss at home to an undefeated Centralia squad Friday night.

The Panthers (0-3 overall, 0-1 CCC) piled up 484 yards of offense that included a 161 rushing yards by senior running back, Aaron Ritchey and 231 passing yards by sophomore quarterback, Ryan Compton.

Ritchey’s performance included a 96-yard touchdown run that cut Centralia’s advantage to 14-12 with six minutes left in the first half.

Meanwhile, the defense pitched a first-quarter shutout against Centralia that came in having put up 65 points against Hallsville just the week before.

Palmyra forced Centralia to punt on its first two possessions before the visitors finally broke through for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.

Palmyra responded in kind with a 57-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown plunge by Compton, who, on the play before connected with Drew Copenhaver on a 43-yard pass down the left sideline.

Despite tight coverage, Copenhaver made a circus catch before landing on the one-yard line. He was injured on the play and had to be taken out of the game.

Centralia responded with a 65-yard touchdown run by Jesse Caballero on their next drive to go back up 14-6.

And after, Ritchey’s long TD run, Centralia came back with a 66-yard drive capped by a five-yard TD run by Cullen Bennett to go up 21-12, the score at the half.

 

Palmyra did thwart a dangerous Centralia drive earlier when junior defensive back, Parker Bier, grabbed one of his two interceptions on the game at the Palmyra 27.

Centralia would solidify its lead with two time-consuming touchdown drives to start the second half and go up 35-12.

Palmyra would score two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cut Centralia’s final lead to 11 points.

Junior defensive back, Laden Simmons, led the Panthers with 9.5 tackles, followed by senior linebacker, Gideon Bogue, 8.5, and freshman linebacker, Wyatt Augspurg, six.

Palmyra will go on the road for the first time this Friday to take on Macon (0-3).

The Tigers are coming off of a tough 51-0 loss against Clark County.

They opened the season with  a 42-26 loss to Kirksville and followed it up with a 20-14 loss to North Callaway. 

CCC Standings Week 3

CCC All PF PA

Centralia 1-0 3-0 127 60

Clark Co. 1-0 3-0 124 6

Monroe City 1-0 3-0 106 64

S. Shelby 1-0 3-0 147 18

Highland 0-1 2-1 60 62

Brookfield 0-1 1-2 38 87

Macon 0-1 0-3 40 113

Palmyra 0-1 0-3 38 125

Week 3 in the CCC

Centralia 35, Palmyra 24

S. Shelby 51, Brookfield 6

Clark Co. 51, Macon 0

Monroe City 30, Highland 14

Week 4 in the CCC

Palmyra at Macon

Brookfield at Centralia

Monroe City at S. Shelby

Clark Co. at Highland

Class 2 District 7 Standings Week 3

Team Record Points

South Shelby 3-0 51.33

Bowling Green 3-0 53.00

Monroe City 3-0 48.67

Clark County 3-0 48.00

Highland 2-1 30.33

Palmyra 0-3 22.67

Mark Twain 0-3 18.67

Week 3 in Class 2, Dist. 7

Centralia 35, Palmyra 24

S. Shelby 51, Brookfield 6

Clark Co. 51, Macon 0

Monroe City 30, Highland 14

Bowl. Gr. 57, Luth. St. Charles 26

Wright City 42, M. Twain 6

Week 4 in Class 2, Dist. 7

Palmyra at Macon

Brookfield at Centralia

Monroe City at S. Shelby

Clark Co. at Highland

Van-Far at Bowling Green

Mont. City at M. Twain

2023 PHS Varsity 

Football Schedule

8/25 Hallsville  L 6-46, 0-1

9/1 Bowl. Gr. L 8-44, 0-2

9/8 Centralia  L 24-25, 0-3

9/15 at Macon

9/22 at Brookfield

9/29 Monroe City

10/6 at Clark Co.

10/13 Highland

10/20 at S. Shelby

10/27 District  TBA