Paola High's Brett Blackman first threw his arms in the air Friday night in jubilation. Minutes later, he threw them up again in frustration.
Finally, the senior kept his arms down, wrapped around the football, and allowed the referee to outstretch his limbs to the sky, signaling a touchdown which sealed a 37-27 Paola victory over Baldwin on Friday at Liston Stadium in a Class 4A District 4 opening-round game.
"Yeah, that was a little redemption for me," said Blackman, who stopped a key Baldwin drive at the end of the first half only to fumble the second-half kickoff, which led to Paola's first deficit of the season.
"When I fumbled that kickoff, I was really down."
The No. 3-ranked team in Class 4A didn't allow Blackman's mistake to tarnish its unblemished record, which improved to 7-0 with the win.
Like Eudora, which got a record-setting rushing performance from Andrew Pyle in last week's win over Baldwin, the Panthers kept the ball on the ground.
But instead of one back carrying the load, Paola fed the ball to a trio of runners who all tallied more than 100 yards rushing.
Dustin Walters led the pack of backs with 179 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns, while fullback Jordan Sevy rushed for 143 yards on 19 carries. Quarterback David Ward commanded the option attack and amassed 113 yards rushing.
"We're an option-oriented team with a bunch of talented backs, and we're not sure who will end up with the ball," Paola coach Mike Dumpert said of his revolving backfield. "Tonight it just ended up that way."
While Paola struck first with two first-quarter scoring drives, Baldwin (4-3) stayed close.
By the close of the second quarter, though, it looked as if the Bulldogs' chances were all but put away.
"I'm just so proud of our guys," Baldwin coach Mike Berg said. "We just came up a little short."
The Bulldogs scored 21 points in the third quarter to take a 27-23 lead, the first time Paola had trailed all season.
Then came the fourth quarter.
The Panthers scored on the second play of the fourth to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Paola 37, Baldwin 27
Paola 10 7 6 14 37
Baldwin 6 0 21 0 27
Paola Nick Green 30 FG
Baldwin Caleb Mason 7 run (kick failed)
Paola Walters 31 run (Green kick)
Paola Walters 3 run (Green kick)
Baldwin Tyler Inzer 25 run (Inzer run)
Paola Walters 41 run (Green kick failed)
Baldwin Micah Mason 61 pass from Inzer (run failed)
Baldwin M. Mason 9 run (Hans Broers kick)
Paola David Ward 1 run (Green kick)
Paola Brett Blackman 4 run (Green kick)
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