SLIPPING AWAY – Panther Corner back Chris Lowery loses his grip on a Grandview Zebra as he is dragged across the turf. Messenger photo by Jimmy Alford

The Paradise Panthers started strong last season and ran out of steam late. If this year’s opener is any indication, a strong finish may be in line, as the Panthers had a rough time against Grandview Friday night.

The visiting Zebras piled up 47 unanswered points in the first half and coasted to a 47-6 win. Grandview rushed for 305 yards and passed for another 216 enroute to 23 first downs, while the home team was limited to 10 first downs on 75 yards rushing and 133 in the air.

Three lost fumbles hurt the Panthers, but Grandview was unfazed by 100 yards of penalties on 16 flags.

SCRAMBLE – Paradise running back Callahan Storey looks for a hole in the Zebra defense. Messenger photo by Jimmy Alford

Senior Josh McDowell rushed eight times for 37 yards to lead Paradise. He also caught five passes for another 52 yards to account for a big chunk of his team’s offense. Quarterback Tanner Valentine completed 13 of his 32 passes for 133 yards, tossing one interception.

Grandview quarterback Ryan Breton opened the scoring with a 39-yard run 45 seconds into the game. A point-after kick failed, but the visitors would not look back. Three minutes later, Breton hit receiver Chase Goldwater for a 53-yard touchdown, and less than a minute later he completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Colby Lee.

A 37-yard touchdown pass with 3:16 left in the opening stanza made it 27-0, and the Zebras scored three more times before halftime on a 21-yard pass to Goldwater, a three-yard run by Jordan Martinez, and a 30-yard pass to Lee with just five seconds left in the half.

Paradise’s lone score came midway through the third quarter on a 19-yard pass from Valentine to McDowell. The extra-point kick was blocked.

The loss leaves the Panthers at 0-1 as they look to even the record next week against Henrietta, again on their home turf.

GRANDVIEW 47, PARADISE 6

Grandview … 27 … 20 … 0 … 0 – 47
Paradise … 0 … 0 … 6 … 0 – 6

FIRST QUARTER

Grandview – Ryan Breton 39 run; kick failed
Grandview – Breton 53 pass to Chase Goldwater; Gullickson kick
Grandview – Breton 17 pass to Colby Lee; Gullickson kick
Grandview – Breton 37 pass to Smith; Gullickson kick

SECOND QUARTER

Grandview – Breton 21 pass to Goldwater; Gullickson kick
Grandview – Jordan Martinez 3 run; kick failed
Grandview – Breton 30 pass to Colby Lee, Gullickson kick

THIRD QUARTER

Paradise – Tanner Valentine 19 pass to Josh McDowell; kick failed

GRANDVIEW … PARADISE

First Downs … 23 … 10
Rushes-Yards … 31-305 … 31-75
Passing Yards … 216 … 133
Total Yards … 521 … 208
Comp-Att-Int … 12-14-0 … 13-32-1
Punts-Avg … 3-40 … 5-22
Fumbles-Lost … 2-1 … 3-3
Penalties-Yards … 16-100 … 2-20

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Grandview – Jordan Martinez, 14-163; Paradise – Josh McDowell, 8-37
Passing: Grandview – Ryan Breton, 12-14-0, 216; Paradise – Tanner Valentine, 13-32-1, 133
Receiving: Grandview – Goldwater, 4-87; Paradise – McDowell, 5-32