After two weeks of watching from the sidelines, Brody Karhu, running back and team captain for the Powell High School football team, was glad to finally be back and suited up for the Panthers’ homecoming showdown against Evanston.

“I felt bad those times when I was out,” Karhu said, “because the boys were working really hard, and I wanted to help.”

The senior made the most of his opportunity. Overcoming a slow start in the first half, Karhu found another gear in the second, leading Powell to a pair of touchdowns. That included a 72-yard run in the fourth quarter to seal the Panthers’ 20-7 win. Powell is now 3-1 on the season.

“Things really started to click in that second half on offense,” Karhu said. “The O-line had fantastic blocks and the team is really starting to trust each other.”

Shaking off a tough loss to Douglas a week prior, the Panthers’ defense returned to form with a five-turnover performance, two of which led to touchdowns.

“It took us a while to get started, but once we started playing team football and trusted what we were doing, our confidence grew,” said PHS head coach Aaron Papich. “We started executing at a pretty high level in that second half.”

First half

Though they struggled offensively to start the game, the Panthers showed why they’re one of the top defenses in the state, shutting down Evanston’s option attack early and creating turnovers. Powell’s offense capitalized on a fumble midway through the second quarter for the first score of the game. Facing a third and 7 on the Panthers’ 47-yard line, Red Devils’ quarterback David Baxter had the ball stripped by defensive lineman Seth Horton. Powell’s Reed Smith recovered the loose ball all the way back at the Red Devils’ 26-yard line.

“Defensively, everyone’s doing their jobs,” Horton said. “We’re one of the best defenses in the state, and it definitely showed. We’re doing good up front, and our linebackers are getting the job done.”

Panther running back Kadden Abraham broke loose a few plays later, scampering in for a 19-yard score; Hawkin Sweeney’s point-after made it 7-0 Powell with just under eight minutes to play in the half.

“Anytime you can capitalize on a turnover, that’s great,” Papich said. “It’s about momentum, and turnovers were definitely the difference in the game. To see Abraham punch it in really got the team going.”

Powell looked like it might score again on its next possession. Faced with a second-and-31 on the Panthers’ own 29, quarterback Landon Lengfelder hooked up with Jesse Trotter for a 39-yard strike.

“Jesse [Trotter] is on a lot of people’s radar right now, and we just try to put him in position to make plays,” Papich said. “When  you have opportunities to get it to Jesse in open space, you want to do that, because he can make things happen.”

Despite the long gain, the Panthers’ drive eventually stalled; Lengfelder took a shot in the end zone, but Evanston’s Jaxin Moore was able to bat the ball away from Trotter. Sweeney’s 47-yard field goal attempt had the distance but went just wide.

The Panthers’ defense continued to make plays, coming up with its third turnover with 13 seconds to play in the first half. With the Red Devils driving, Riley Bennett jumped a route for an interception to close out the half with the Panthers up 7-0. The Red Devils were held to 36 yards in the first half.

Second half

The Panthers’ opening drive stalled after the Red Devils’ Moore picked off a Lengfelder pass intended for Trotter.

But Evanston gave the ball right back. Fulfilling every lineman’s dream, defensive end Seth Horton read an Evanston screen and stepped in front of the intended target for his first career interception.

“Coach always has us on the line try to read draws and screens,” Horton said. “I read pass, so I rushed the quarterback, and I saw him turn his hips toward the line. I was like, ‘Oh man, that’s a screen.’ I ran back and the ball ended up in my hands.”

“Pretty sure that was my first interception ever,” he added, laughing.

Despite great field position for the Panthers, Evanston’s defense held; Sweeney’s attempt at a 37-yard field goal was partially blocked and the score remained 7-0.

The battle of the takeaways continued on the Red Devils’ first play from scrimmage on their next possession. Panther defensive lineman Bryce Johnson jarred the ball loose from an Evanston ball carrier on the 20-yard line, recovered by Lane Shramek. That led to a 2-yard Karhu touchdown run a few plays later; Sweeney’s PAT pushed Powell’s lead to 14-0.

After a couple of nice runs in the third quarter, Karhu broke loose midway through the fourth, taking advantage of a gaping hole provided by his offensive line to scamper 72 yards for a score. Sweeney’s PAT was blocked, and the Panthers led 20-0.

“When Brody gets going, he’s pretty fast, so it was great to have him back,” Papich said. “I was pretty happy for him there.”

Evanston finally got on the board in the game’s waning minutes, covering 68 yards yards in under a minute for its only score. The onside kick was unsuccessful, and the Panthers held on for the 20-7 win.

Offensively, the Panthers finished with 250 yards of total offense, 195 on the ground. Karhu was the Panthers’ leading rusher with 94 yards on 10 carries. Toran Graham finished with 51 yards on 10 carries, while Abraham had 41 yards on 18 carries.

Under center, Lengfelder was 5-for-12 for 55 yards and an interception; five different receivers caught a pass, led by Trotter’s 39-yard grab.

Defense was again the name of the game for the Panthers, limiting Evanston’s option attack to the 157 total yards (71 on the ground) and turning the Red Devils over five times. It was the second five-turnover game of the season for Powell.

“We knew that the option was going to be coming, so we just played assignment football with our D-line, our linebackers and our secondary,” Papich said. “It takes all those position groups to stop the option, and I think we did that.”

Carson Olsen led the team with 17 defensive points, followed by 13 from Riley Bennett, who recovered a fumble and picked off a pass. Horton, Ryan Good and Reed Smith finished with nine defensive points apiece; Horton caused a fumble and picked off a pass. Shramek also recovered a fumble.

“Seth Horton getting an interception, that’s the dream right there,” Papich said, laughing. “He had a big game. He knew his assignments and did his job to the best of his ability.”

The Panthers are on the road this week, traveling to Afton Friday to take on top-ranked Star Valley, the defending 3A state champs. The Braves (4-0) beat Green River 22-0 last week, and Papich said Star Valley’s success rests in a willingness to punch their opponent in the mouth early and often.

“Star Valley doesn’t make it any secret what they try to do — they’re all about power football,” Papich said. “They’re gonna smash down and kick out; that’s what they do. They have a lot of different looks with that, but the concept is the same. We have to just play low and leverage block. If we can match their physicality, it will be a good night for us.”

Horton agreed, the memory of a 14-7 loss against the Braves last season still fresh.

“They [Star Valley] come out with a lot of lead blockers, so our defense needs to be ready,” he said. “There’s no doubt in my mind we can beat them, but it’s going to take a lot. Last year we had them by the tail but couldn’t pull through. I think this year we can definitely get them.”