Returning home and looking to carry momentum after their first victory of the season, the Powell Panther football team cruised past the visiting Lander Tigers 39-8 behind five touchdown passes from quarterback Keona Wisniewski.

POWELL 39, LANDER 8

Continuing with non-conference action the Panthers (2-1) welcomed the other half of Fremont County to Powell, taking on the Tigers (1-1) on Friday.

The Panthers got things started on their first drive, when Wisniewski found Jordan Loera on a pass, and Loera raced to the end zone for 23 yards for the first score of the game.

A penalty on the extra point led to Powell going for two, and Trevon Abraham scored to make it 8-0.

After a punt on Lander’s possession, the Panthers found the end zone once again, as Wisniewski found Dawson Griffin from 13 yards out to make it 15-0 with 4:34 left in the first quarter.

“Each week we’ve got a new challenge that we’ve been overcoming with who’s healthy, who’s injured, and then just how to adjust and get the ball in your playmakers’ hands,” coach Chase Kistler said. “This week it worked out really well.”

The ensuing kickoff went out-of-bounds, but the Panthers stopped the Tigers on their next drive.

Griffin stepped up and intercepted a pass, returning it 35 yards to give the Panthers good field position.

Unfortunately, Powell turned it over on downs just before the end of the first quarter in Lander territory.

In the second quarter the Tigers got a punt down to the 1 yard line of the Panthers, and after a three and out by Powell, a short punt gave the visitors the ball in Powell territory.

That led to a 3-yard touchdown run, and a well executed fake extra point allowed for a two-point conversion to make it 15-8.

Powell answered with a drive of its own, as Wisniewski found Loera for his second touchdown of the night, this time from 20 yards out to make it 22-8.

The Panthers had one more chance before the half, but an interception on a jump ball near midfield ended the drive.

A strong kick return gave the Panthers good field position to open the second half, but Ivy Agee’s field goal missed just wide from 31 yards to extend the lead.

Lander took advantage, using a strong running attack to move down the field.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, a fumble at the goalline went out of the end zone for a touchback to give Powell the ball back.

A quick drive followed, as Wisniewski found his fourth touchdown pass of the night, this time to Alex Jordan from 40 yards out to make it 29-8.

Lander returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but a block in the back brought it back.

Powell started out the fourth quarter with another turnover, this time when Abraham intercepted it on the first play from scrimmage.

The Panthers took advantage and Wisniewski found Caden Nelson on a 14-yard touchdown reception to make it 36-8 with 10:10 left to play.

Nelson followed that up with another turnover, picking off the Tigers with 8:34 left to give Powell one more possession.

That possession led to a 27-yard Agee field goal to make the final scoreline 39-8.

“Offensively we just finished drives, and that’s what we have got to continue to get better at,” Kistler said.

Wisniewski led the Panthers, going 11-19 for 185 yards and five touchdowns with one interception. He also led with 11 tackles alongside Rowan Diaz as both had two tackles for loss.

Abraham led Powell with 73 yards on 13 carries, while Nelson led Powell with five receptions for 77 yards.

DOUGLAS ROAD CONTEST

Powell heads back out on the road to finish out non-conference play, heading to Douglas to take on the Bearcats (1-1) at 6 p.m. on Friday.

“It’s a tough place to play,” Kistler said. “They love their football so it’s a hard place for us to go down there and play. It’s always a battle between Powell and Douglas — I think we’re realizing too that we’re going to have to win some games doing it the ugly way so we’re getting ready for that.”

Douglas is coming off a 49-0 loss to Cody, who will be the next opponent for the Panthers when they return home to open conference play on Sept. 27.

POWELL 39, LANDER 8

Total tackles then solo tackles in ()

Passing — Keona Wisniewski 11-19, 185 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 interception; Caden Nelson 1-2, 8 yards

Rushing — Trevon Abraham 13-73, Caden Nelson 1-20, Keona Wisniewski 7-18, Lincoln Crawford 4-5, McKale Foley 2 for negative 6

Receiving — Caden Nelson 5-77, 1 touchdown; Jordan Loera 2-43, 2 touchdowns; Alex Jordan 2-41, 1 touchdown; Dawson Griffin 1-13, 1 touchdown; Trevon Abraham 1-11; Tyler Wenzel 1-8

Tackles — Keona Wisniewski 11 (6), Rowan Diaz 11 (5), Trevon Abraham 7 (4), McKale Foley 7 (2), Alex Jordan 4 (2), Alan Crawford 3 (1), Dawson Griffin 3 (2), Brady Harvey 3 (1), Tyler Wenzel 3 (2), Evan Whitlock 2 (1), Doug Bettger 2, Zane Younas 2, Jordan Loera 1, Tucker Oliver 1, Caden Nelson 1, Broc Frank 1 (1)

Tackles for loss — Keona Wisniewski 2, Rowan Diaz 2, McKale Foley 1, Brady Harvey 1, Doug Bettger 1

Sacks — Keona Wisniewski 1

Pass breakups — Keona Wisniewski 1, Jordan Loera 1, Evan Whitlock 1

Forced fumbles — Alex Jordan 1, Dawson Griffin 1

Fumble recoveries — Brady Harvey 1

Interceptions — Trevon Abraham 1, Dawson Griffin 1, Caden Nelson 1