Panthers run over Broncos 42-20 in district opener

Consistency on offense had been a struggle for the Concordia Panthers through the first three games of the season.
That wasn't the case in the Panthers' biggest game to date.
Hunter Schroeder and Keyan Miller each rushed for over 100 yards, and Dyelan Reed amassed 191 total yards as Concordia downed Russell 42-20 in the Class 3A District 8 opener for both teams Friday night at Harold M. Clark Stadium.
Schroeder, a sophomore, had 29 carries for 183 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 89 yards.
Miller, a freshman, finished with carried nine times for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Reed, the senior quarterback, completed 8 of 10 passes for 139 yards and rushed for 52 on 11 carries.
Concordia, after finishing with just 115 yards of total offense in a loss to Marysville a week earlier, racked up 497 yards.
"I don't know if it was any one thing or another. We were able to stay ahead of the sticks. We obviously executed a lot better. We were able to run a lot more plays because we were able to sustain drives. So I think all of those things contributed to us being able to have a lot more success on that side of the ball," Concordia coach Austin Kingsbury said.
Concordia, 2-2 overall, is now one of three teams in 3A District 8 at 1-0.
Scott City opened district play the previous week with a 61-0 win over Goodland.  Colby downed Beloit 38-14 Friday night.
"It feels good, and we were able to max out the points they count, the 21 point plus or minus system," Kingsbury said, "I think everything from it was a win, the fact it was a district game and the fact it was homecoming. I think it was huge for momentum going into at least this next week. We definitely started districts out on the right foot going out and getting that win."
The Concordia defense forced a Russell fumble on the first possession of the game, and the Panthers got the ball on their own 26-yard line.
Two running plays netted no yards, and Concordia faced a third down and 10.
Reed was able to fire a pass to Tanner Smith who raced 40 yards.
"I thought Dyelan had a great game. He threw some great passes. I think the first pass he threw was in a really tight window to Tanner Smith for a big gain on third and long, so that was huge," Kingsbury said, "Any time you complete 80 percent of your passes, that is a really good night."
Two plays later, Schroeder ripped off a 22-yard run, and Russell was called for a face mask penalty, setting up a first down and goal at the 3-yard line.
Schroeder scored two plays later on a 1-yard run.
The extra point attempt was no good, and Concordia led 6-0 with 7:42 to play in the first quarter.
Russell would answer with a 54-yard touchdown drive.
The big play was a 50-yard pass from Austin Price to A.J. Oste.
Price threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Braydon Gibson with 2:58 to play in the first period.
A two-point conversion attempt was no good, and the game was tied at 6-6.
Concordia would then put together an 11 play, 64-yard scoring drive.
Schroeder capped off the long drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Reed threw to Dylan Thoman for the conversion to make it 14-6.
The Panthers would come up with a defensive stop and took over on its own 27-yard line following a Russell punt.
"Our defense was able to step up when they needed to, and we were able to get enough stops," Kingsbury said.
Concordia picked up one first down, and then Miller found some open space and raced 58 yards for a touchdown with 6:45 remaining in the first half.
"We have known we have got some really good skill guys. The more we can get those guys in space, and in one on one situations, they are really good runners with the football," Kingsbury said.
Wyatt Trost caught a pass from Reed for the two-point conversion to put up 22-6.
Russell took just over two minutes to respond.
Price scored on a 29-yard run to make it 22-12.
The conversion attempt failed.
It was then the Panthers' turn to answer.
Concordia went 67 yards in 10 plays.
The Panthers were facing a third down and 20 when Reed completed a 31-yard pass to Schroeder.
Reed scored on a 4-yard run one play later.
Concordia was unable to convert on the two-point try but led 28-12 at halftime.
The two teams exchanged turnovers to start the second half, and an interception by Schroeder gave Concordia the ball on the Russell 22-yard line.
The Panthers were backed up by a holding call and faced a fourth down and 12.
Reed completed a 13-yard pass to Schroeder for a first down.
Schroeder picked up 10 yards, and then scored on a 1-yard run with 2:46 left in the third quarter.
"We had two 100 yard rushers, and that starts with the offensive line. They executed the best they have all season. For those guys, that was great," Kingsbury said.
Reed's pass on the two-point conversion attempt was incomplete, and it was a 34-12 game.
Russell wouldn't go away.
A 27-yard touchdown pass from Price to Kyler Fritschen finished off a 73-yard scoring drive for the Broncos.
Price threw to Fitschen for the two-point conversion to make it 34-20 with 11:53 to play.
Concordia got the ball on its own 29-yard line, and four plays later Schroeder burst through a big hole and outran the Russell defense for a 57-yard touchdown run.
Reed threw to Miller for the conversion to put the game out of reach, 42-20.

Concordia is on the road to play Colby on Friday night.