92.1 KMZA Broadcast - Pittsburg-Colgan at Centralia - click here to listen

Back in the playoffs after missing out last season the Centralia Panthers were looking to get back into the Sub-State round of the playoffs and had Pittsburg-Colgan standing in front of them. It was a tight battle that featured seven turnovers and a late score to lift Pittsburg-Colgan the 25-18 win. 

The contest opened with a 75-yard kick return touchdown by Max Wilson of Colgan and just 17 seconds into the game it was 7-0 Colgan. Centralia answered with a drive that made it into Colgan territory but stalled out and Centralia then punted away to pin Colgan deep and forced a three and out to get a short field. The first play after getting the short field Centralia looked to get a big play and went to the aerial attack but Colgan picked off the pass. Centralia's defense stepped up again and pushed Colgan backwards and got on the board with a safety with 4:14 left in the first quarter to make it 7-2. 

Centralia swung the lead into their favor for the first time as Isaac Gore finished a 16-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run covering 86 yards to make it 8-7 with 7:27 left in the first half. Colgan regained the lead with as they worked into the redzone and then settled for a 25-yard field goal that Luke Orender put through the uprights to make it 10-7 with 2:10 left in the first half. Centralia looked to finish the first half strong but a screen pass was intercepted by Colgan and ran back setting up a 20-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Hutchins to Jeremiah Buche making it 17-8 heading into halftime. 

Second half started strong for Centralia as they recovered a Colgan fumble which led to a 35-yard touchdown run by Gore and with the extra point Centralia drew within two-points at 17-15 with 7:28 left in the third quarter. Centralia recovered another Colgan fumble in the third quarter but was unable to cash it in but put together a 10-play drive that covered 58 yards that ended in a 27-yard field goal by Kenton Talley giving them the 18-17 lead with 10:34 remaining. 

The lead remained in Centralia's pocket until Colgan looked like they would regain the lead working the ball down to the two-yard line but Centralia forced a fourth and goal from the two and thus a field goal try that was wide left with 2:03 left in the game. Centralia looking to run out the clock got a first down but could not get another and the ball went back to Colgan for one final opportunity. After unsuccessfully moving the ball it was fourth and 10 and Colgan took to the air and ultimately the pass was incomplete but a pass inference call was made giving Colgan new life on offense and then Hutchins busted a 32-yard run to the one-yard line and with a quick spike it was second and goal from the one with 32 seconds left and Hutchins then took it in from one-yard out and with a two-point conversion Colgan led 25-18 with just over 30 seconds remaining. Centralia tried to quickly cover ground but tossed their third interception of the game and Colgan earned the 25-18 win. 

In the loss Centralia was plagued by four turnovers but managed to run the ball for around 270 yards while holding Colgan to 167 yards of total offense and forcing three turnovers. Gore led Centralia with 139 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns, while Trenton Flentie added 93 yards on 24 carries. On defense the line play for Centralia was strong as several guys made strong plays but Austin Holthaus stood out with multiple tackles, a sack and fumble recovery earning him Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA. 

The loss ends Centralia's season at 8-3 as they bounced back well a one win season in 2016, Colgan advances to the 2-1A Sub-State round to play Olpe who beat Jefferson County North in Sectionals.