HS FOOTBALL: Tale of two players as Panther Valley outlasts Shenandoah, 39-21
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Panther Valley's #5 Brennan Kunkel outruns Shenandoah Valley's #2 Ben Dempster and #22 Joel Nunez.
SHENANDOAH – As Shenandoah Valley and Panther Valley exchanged scores, two players were often involved: Nick Ryan for the Devils and Brennan Kunkel for the Panthers.
The former etched his name into Shenandoah Valley record books, breaking the school’s career receiving yards record. He entered the game with 1,765 and the previous record was 1,838.
Ryan has averaged over 100 yards per game so far this season, and Friday was no different, with the star receiver earning 101 receiving yards on the game, plus a 73-yard touchdown run.
Kunkel, on the other hand, ran for 322 yards and six touchdowns to elevate his Panthers above Shenandoah.
The Panthers struck first with a 71-yard run early, quickly followed up by another short score.
Shenandoah QB Ben Dempster found Ryan for a score to narrow the gap to 13-7.
Kunkel and Ryan would exchange scores through the 2nd quarter, with the Panthers taking a 32-21 lead into halftime.
Near the end of the third quarter, Ryan broke the receiving yardage record and nearly capped off that drive with a touchdown reception, had it not been for an illegal man downfield penalty. The drive ended with a pass deflection on 4th down.
Panther Valley would add another score in the 4th and hold off the Devils for a 39-21 victory.
Shenandoah moves on to host Hancock (MD) next Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
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