The Panthers improve to 4-0 on the season with the win, the first time in over a decade that they’ve started a season this well.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” said Luke Kreger. “It’s been 11 years now, and it just feels great to make that history.”

Kreger racked up 164-yards rushing and two touchdowns on 24 carries, including a 74-yard scoring run on fourth down in the fourth quarter to give the Panthers the lead.

“I felt it was an absolute game changer,” Kreger said about the run. “Our line made the blocks, and we just capitalized off of it.”

Colton Pellett had two big plays on the day, opening things off with an 84-yard kick-off return to paydirt to give NPM the lead, and then he chased down Canton’s Ryder Route on a long pass play, stripping the ball at the 1-yard line to prevent a touchdown.

Sudan Benner had his fair share of big runs, too, going off for 99-yards on eight carries while Jeremiah Lawrence had 13 touches for 38-yards.

Through the air Bradley Brooks was 6-for-11 for 45-yards with one interception as Patrick Youmans was his top target, hauling in two catches for 19-yards.

NPM was almost undone by turnovers, fumbling the ball seven times in the game and losing two of them.

However, they were opportunistic on defense, too, forcing Canton into five turnovers.

Bailey Gardner had a big day on the ground for the Warriors, pounding out 168-yards and two scores on 14 carries while Rylan Wesneski had seven carries for 36-yards.

Through the air Wesneski was 1-for-4 for 75-yards with an interception while Owen Moore went 2-for-11 for 19-yards and two picks. Route finished with two catches for 86-yards, while Wesneski had a 21-yard reception.

It took the Panthers just 13 seconds to get on the scoreboard as Pellett found space down the right side of the field for 84-yards. Brody Grinnell added the point after for a 7-0 lead.

Canton opened their ensuing drive with a 57-yard Gardner run, but it ended with an Aumick interception. However, the Panthers handed the ball back to Canton inside the Warrior 20-yard line as Gardner fell on a fumble.

After a Warrior 3-and-out ended with a short punt due to a bad snap NPM took over at the Canton 30-yard line.

The Warrior defense held, though, keeping NPM to a 28-yard field goal attempt by Grinnell that split the uprights, finishing off the 7-play scoring drive.

Canton’s ensuing drive ended with another Aumick interception, but then they forced NPM into a 3-and-out.

The offensive struggles continue as Canton went 3-and-out, however, Jake Pepper recovered a NPM fumble at his own 35-yard line to end a promising Panther drive.

Canton would end up punting off that drive, but got the ball back when Grant Jennings picked off a Brooks pass.

Starting at the NPM 43-yard line and with Wesneski under center, Canton was able to generate some offense as they used eight plays to get into the end zone on a 5-yard Gardner punch up the middle.

An 18-yard Wesneski run down to the 15 was the key play of the drive as Canton was running low on time, scoring with just 18.6 seconds on the clock.

Alexis McRoberts hit the point after and it was 10-7 at the half.

The Warriors got the ball to start the second half and a 48-yard Gardner run on the second play of the drive got them down to the NPM 29-yard line. Things ended there, though, as on fourth down defensive tackle Raiden Wimpelberg hauled in an interception for the Panthers.

NPM’s ensuing drive got to the Canton 35-yard line, but a pair of false starts and a sack by Pepper forced them into a 4th-and-24 at the 50. A bad snap on the punt ended with Canton tackling the punter, takin over at the Panther 32-yard line.

They only needed one play to take the lead as Gardner tip-toed down the left sideline 32-yards into the end zone. McRoberts hit the point after and it was 14-10 with 3:14 left in the third.

Benner was able to give NPM a jolt in their ensuing drive, running 47-yards down to the Canton 31-yard line. Things stalled there, though, as they turned the ball over on downs.

Canton appeared to extend the lead as Wesneski found Route on an inside seam through the defense. It was off to the races to the end zone with Pellett catching Route from behind at the 1-yard line, stripping the ball. NPM fell on it in the end zone, getting the touchback and saving a touchdown all in one play.

The ensuing NPM drive didn’t start off too promising, though, as holding call backed them up. Brooks hit Pellett on third-and-long to make it 4th-and-4 at the Canton 26-yard line.

The Panthers elected to go for it, giving it Kreger on a sweep to the right side. He out sprinted two would be Canton tacklers to the edge, and found a seam down the right sideline 74-yards to paydirt.

Grinnell hit the point after for a 17-14 NPM lead with 9:07 left.

Starting at their own 20 Canton used a 21-yard hook-up from Moore to Wesneski to get out the 41, but a Canton fumble on the next play was scooped up by Pellett, ending the drive.

NPM then went 60-yards in eight plays, ending with a 3-yard Kruger touchdown run with 2:56 to play to go up two scores. The key play was a 29-yard Benner run on third-and-8 to get to the Warrior 3-yard line.

Canton got to midfield on their ensuing drive but turned it over on downs there, with NPM running out the clock.

NPM will now travel to Athens to take on another team seeing plenty of early season success. The Wildcats fell to Troy, 51-35, this past weekend but sit at 3-1 on the year.

“We’ve just got to keep trying to capitalize off of our wins, and keep building the momentum,” said Kreger. “Hopefully, we’ll win the game.”

— — 

NORTH PENN-MANSFIELD 24, CANTON 14

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

N: Colton Pellett 84-yard kick-off return (Brody Grinnell), 11:47

N: Brody Grinnell 28-yard field goal, 1:42

Second Quarter

C: Bailey Gardner 5-yard run (Alexis McRoberts), 18.6

Third Quarter

C: Bailey Gardner 32-yard run (McRoberts kick), 3:14

Fourth Quarter

N: Luke Kreger 74-yard run (Grinnell kick), 9:07

N: Luke Kreger 3-yard run (Grinnell kick), 2:56

Individual Stats

NP-Mansfield

Rushing

Luke Kreger 24-164-2, Jeremiah Lawrence 13-38, Sudan Benner 8-99, Bradley Brooks 3-(-16), Team 3-(-17)

Passing

Bradley Brooks 6-11-45-0-1

Receiving

Patrick Youmans 2-19, Luke Kreger 1-8, Colton Pellett 1-8, Kaiden Pellett 1-5

Canton

Rushing

Bailey Gardner 14-168-2, Dawson Burgess 6-20, Rylan Wesneski 7-36, Owen Moore 2-1

Passing

Rylan Wesneski 1-4-75-0-1, Owen Moore 2-11-19-0-0-2

Receiving

Ryder Route 2-86, Rylan Wesneski 1-21

Team Stats NPM Canton

Rushes/Yards 51/268 29/225

Passing Yards 45 94

First Downs 18 11

Fumbles/Lost 7/2 3/2

Penalties/Yards 7/45 4/45

Interceptions: NPM (Charles Aumick 2, Raiden Wimpelberg), Canton (Grant Jennings)