HAMILTON – Trailing 20-16 in the final two minutes, the North Platte football team (3-1) made some gutsy play calls and John Winkler made a pair of huge catches to give the Panthers the lead over Penney (2-2) with 10 seconds left on Sept. 15.
North Platte senior John Winkler brought in five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, including two catches in the final two plays, in the Panthers 22-20 win over Penney on Sept. 15.
This is the second straight year that North Platte and Penney had a game that went down to the wire, with the 2022 matchup going to double overtime. Last fall the Panthers erased a 12-0 halftime deficit and won 25-24, having a similar outcome in the rematch.
Midway through the fourth quarter, North Platte led 16-6. Penney scored a touchdown with 4:15 left, recovered an onside kick and junior running back Carter Kanoy ran in to put the Hornets ahead 20-16 with 1:44 on the clock.
Time was not on the Panthers’ side, but that didn’t matter. North Platte faced a 4th and 15 at the Penney 26-yard line with 24 seconds left and Colton Kirkham threw a deep ball down the right sideline to Winkler.
The senior tight end was in double coverage but outran the defenders and caught a nicely thrown ball to give North Platte a 1st and goal at the goal line. The Panthers ran a play action pass on the next play – tricking the Hornet defense with a fake handoff – and Winkler brought in the touchdown reception.
North Platte couldn’t convert on the 2-point conversion but walked away with a 22-20 victory. This was a big bounce back win for the Panthers who continue to be towards the top of the Class 1 power rankings.
The first half was a defensive battle, with the score being 0-0 at the break. Penney struck first with 2:48 left in the third quarter but that lead was short-lived as Kirkham ran in for a touchdown and Dylan Armstrong followed that with the 2-point conversion.
Armstrong added another touchdown with 8:26 remaining in the fourth quarter and Chance Garber ran in for the 2-point try. Garber had a big day defensively, leading the team with 19 total tackles and 14 solo, along with a broken-up pass.
Jason Shanks had an interception, while Jesse Williams recovered one fumble and Hayden Gibson recovered two. Winkler brought in five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.
The 3-1 start for North Platte is its best record through the first four weeks of the season since 2011. The Panthers will play Conway Christian (4-1) from Arkansas on homecoming on Sept. 22.