Last season the Centralia football team saw its season end, failing to get a 2-point conversion late and falling in the sectional round of the playoffs with a 20-18 loss at home to Olpe.

Friday night the Panthers delivered the same fate back to the Eagles, as Centralia stopped an Olpe 2-point conversion attempt with 1:34 remaining and recovered the ensuing onside kick to advance to the school’s first sub-state championship game since 2013 with a 22-20 win.

Both teams took a little bit to get things going trading possessions early on leaving the score 0-0 after the first quarter.

The offenses got going in the second with Olpe taking a 7-0 lead on a touchdown pass from Colby Hoelting, but Centralia came right back and went on a methodical drive that ended with a 3-yard Kamble Haverkamp touchdown run. The point after failed and the Panthers trailed 7-6.

After two quick drives by both sides the Eagles forced a punt and took over at Centralia’s 42-yard line with just under a minute to go in the half and after a couple quick plays Hoelting threw his second touchdown pass giving Olpe a 14-6 lead at halftime.

The Panthers got the ball to start the half and wasted no time in tying the game at 14 as Haverkamp broke free for a 70-yard touchdown which was his second score of the game.

That score held until midway through the fourth quarter when Centralia took the lead on a 25-yard run from Haverkamp who also ran in the conversion giving the Panthers a 22-14 lead with about six minutes to go.

Olpe wasn’t going to go down quietly though and gave themselves a chance with Hoelting throwing his third touchdown of the game with 1:34 left, but the potential game-tying conversion attempt was batted down and the Panthers recovered the ensuing onside kick to kneel the clock out.

Centralia’s defense allowed just 195 total yards of offense and forced two interceptions on the day while Kamble Haverkamp ran for 197 yards and three touchdowns.

The Panthers (10-1) advance to their first sub-state championship game since 2013 where they will take on Jackson Heights (9-2) with live coverage on 103.9 KNZA and kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.