Stout defense, big plays and heavy dose of the run game out of the single wing that's been the recipe for success yet again this year for the Centralia-Wetmore Panthers as they cruised past Olpe 36-0 in the 2-1A playoffs to move into the semifinals.

The Panthers offense looked like it wasn't going to miss a beat early as Centralia-Wetmore marched down the field after a nice return on the opening kickoff, but saw the drive stall out in the redzone with a fourth and eight play. Centralia-Wetmore went to the air the first time in the game and it appeared to be caught for a TD from JT Rosine to Brett Burdiek but it was negated by the referee's, keeping the game scoreless.

The contest stayed 0-0 until 7:52 to go in the first half when senior tailback, Sam Steinlage busted out a TD run and then added another one minutes later to make it 14-0 Centralia. The Panthers weren't down scoring in the first half as they got the ball back with 47 seconds to go in the half and had basically the entire field to go and took to the air and Rosine connected with Steinlage with a 85-yard bomb for a TD as Steinlage turned on the jets to burn the Olpe defense making it 21-0 at the half.

In the second half Rosine added a rushing TD from one-yard out, after a big run by Steinlage step up the short yardage to gain for the score and Steinlage capped of his day with this fourth score, this time coming on defense with a 28-yard pick six making it 36-0 with 6:38 left to play in the conest.

While the rushing attack and some timely passes lead the offense the Centralia-Wetmore defense continued to stonewall their opponents posting their sixth shutout of the season and held Olpe to just 121 total yards of offense.

The Panthers next take their stout defense that only allows 4.2 points per game (46 points given up this season) and potent rushing attack on the road again as they play the Lyndon Tigers for the second straight year in the Class 2-1A semifinals of the playoffs, winner moves on to the state championship on November 30th in Hays. But first the Panthers will battle the Tigers this coming Friday, November 22nd kick at 7:00pm (game will be broadcasted on 92.1 KMZA).