A week ago, the Centralia Panthers suffered a loss to Rossville 28-8 to open the 2019 season which caused many to question if the Panther had the guys that could deliver another exciting season like years past.

The Panthers put doubters to rest Friday night, as senior quarterback Kamble Haverkamp rushed for 200 yards and six touchdowns and Centralia upset Riley County 54-32 at home on homecoming night.

It was less than a picture-perfect start for the Panthers who struggled in the first quarter and a half against a Falcon team ranked inside of the top five in Class 2A.

Centralia went three-and-out on their opening possession and after forcing Riley County to do the same the Panthers fumbled on their own 12 yard-line and the Falcons ran it in for the initial score of the game.

The Panthers bounced right back and went on a quick scoring drive that took just five plays and a little over two and half minutes off the clock ending with a Kamble Haverkamp 3-yard touchdown.

Centralia then came right back and forced another punt, but after another lost fumble Riley County took a 13-6 lead on a 98-yard touchdown run by Trey Harmison.

The Panthers pulled back within 13-12 on another touchdown run from Haverkamp, this time from 12 yards out, but once again the Falcons had an answer and came right back with a 7-yard touchdown from Harmison to take a 20-12 lead with five minutes before the half.

Riley County would have had all the momentum going into the half if they could get a stop with getting the ball to start the second half, but Centralia ended the second quarter on an 11-play drive and scored a 1-yard touchdown run by Haverkamp and got a two-point run from Noah Quigley to tie the game at 20 at the break.

The third quarter started the dominant second half by the Panthers, as Corbin Becker recorded a pick-six on the Falcons first drive of the third and Haverkamp later added his fourth touchdown giving Centralia a quick 32-20 lead out of the break.

Haverkamp would add two more rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter and Devon Feldkamp had an 85-yard kick return score to complete a dominant second half which the Panthers outscored Riley County 34-12.

Not only did Haverkamp have six rushing touchdowns on 32 carries but he also recorded 108 kick return yards.

Centralia also took advantage of 11 Riley County penalties and besides the 98-yard touchdown the Panthers allowed less than 20 rushing yards.

The Panthers (1-1) now get set for another non-league matchup in week three as they will host St. Mary’s with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.