The Centralia Panthers won convincingly and decisively last night in their 46-14 win over the St Mary’s-Colgan Panthers. Centralia was trailing 5-7 in the all-time series again Colgan, and 3-7 against them when facing Colgan in the playoffs. Centralia had however won the last two matchups straight, now extending to three straight games won against St-Mary’s-Colgan.

Colgan won the toss and elected to defer to start the game, and Centralia wasted no time to score. In seven plays and nearly four minutes taken off the clock, Centralia scored on a 82-yard drive to take a 8-0 lead with Jacob Flentie finding his first score of the game. Colgan would respond with their only limited possession in the first quarter with a fifty-three yard drive capped off with a 2-yard rushing score from Carson Simmons, to make it 8-7 heading into the second quarter. 

The Centralia Panthers hit their spark as they would jump up to a massive 32-7 lead before halftime with four consecutive touchdowns to start the game. Centralia’s second score was a well earned and put together 89-yard drive with Jacob Flentie cutting his way into the end zone. Colgan is forced to punt the ball of their second possession and Centralia has a faster drive finished with another short touchdown run from Jacob Flentie. Quinton Aldefer from 22-yards out had the final touchdown of the half to go up 32-7, Centralia had not failed a two-point-conversion once in the first half. 

Colgan started with the ball in the second half and on their fifth drive but unfortunately the star junior quarterback for Colgan, Carson Simmons, went down due to an injury and would not return to the game. Sophmore Will Schremmer came into the game as the backup quarterback and on his first drive was really impressive, completing three passes and even one that went into the end zone for a score to his cousin Anthony Schremmer, to cut the game down to 32-14. Centralia went on to respond in the best way they possibly could, by taking seven minutes off the clock and letting it roll into the fourth quarter, before they tacked on another score to make it 40-14.

Centralia had the one and only touchdown in the fourth to go up 46-14 and Pitt-Colgan just couldn’t find a way to break Centralia’s defense, with Centralia forcing two turnover-on-downs on the game. Centralia has played a clean playoff run so far as they have yet to turn to ball over in the post season. 

The Centralia Panthers finished with 450 yards rushing as a team with six total rushing scores. Flentie contributed 256 yards rushing off 27 Carries for four touchdowns. Quinton Aldefer put in a helping hand with over 120 rushing yards and two scores. 

This win secured Centralia a spot at Substate and to sweeten the deal the Panthers will also host Rossville at John Riggin’s Field in Centralia as Rossville had an insane comeback win to beat the Cobras last night. This is the second time making Substate for third year head coach Roger Holtaus, and this was also the first time since 2011 that Centralia had won against Colgan in the playoffs, Centralia won state that year. 

Valley Heights, a team that Centralia beat just 20-14, is currently playing Conway Springs next week in the other class 1A bracket.