After having their season ended at the hands of Lyndon a year ago, the Centralia Panthers made sure that would not happen again Friday night with an impressive 55-22 win over the Tigers in the sectional round of the Class 1A playoffs.

It was Lyndon though who started fast forcing a punt on Centralia’s opening drive before three plays later Darian Massey found Evan Feurborn for a 68-yard touchdown to put the Tigers up 6-0.

Centralia wasted no time responding as on the second play of the ensuing drive Ethan McNalley raced 57 yards up the gut of the Lyndon defense to tie the game up 6-6.

From there the Panthers would string together two interceptions and a fumble recovery while McNally scored three more times and Trenton Talley added another to make it 33-6 in the blink of an eye.

It appeared to be a runaway, but Lyndon battled back scoring on a 50-yard run by Jalen Massey and then recovered an onside kick before Toby Miller caught a touchdown pass just before the half to pull within 33-22 at intermission.

The Tigers also got the ball to start the second half but turned the ball over on downs three straight possessions and then threw an interception on the final series while McNally racked up his fifth rushing touchdown and Jarod Blaha added two more to seal the deal.

McNally was an absolute stud all night for the Panthers rushing 26 times for 173 yards and five touchdowns while recovering a fumble defensively earning him our Citizen State Bank and Trust Company in Hiawatha Player of the Game honors on KNZA.

Jarod Blaha added 113 yards and two scores for the Panthers while the defense recorded three interceptions, recovered a fumble, and forced four turnovers on downs.

Lyndon’s Darian Massey did throw for 259 yards and three touchdowns, but the Tigers were held to just 65 rushing yards ending their season with a 6-4 record.

Centralia (9-2) now gets set to host No. 1 Olpe (11-0) next Friday in the sub-state round with kickoff at 7 pm in Centralia with live radio on 103.9 KNZA. Olpe beat Jeff County North 28-0 Friday night pitching their ninth shutout of the season.