Eastbrook defeated Harding 44-12 to move on to the sectional finals for a second straight year. 

The game was not what the final score may have indicated.  The Panthers went into the locker room down for the first time this season 12-10. 

The second half would see a much different result as the Panthers would score 34 unanswered points to run away with the game in the second half.

The first quarter looked like the game might turn into an offensive showdown.  Harding would march 85 yards on the first series taking 14 plays to do it before Zac Bo Haydock would score from 7 yards out.  The two point conversion was no good but Harding led 6-0.

Eastbrook would answer that scoring drive moving 81 yards on four plays with Colton Benedict scoring from 1 yard out making the score 7-6.  The drive was highlighted on a long run of 68 yards from Benedict.

The Panthers would start to right the ship on defense.  Harding would turn the ball over on downs near midfield.  Eastbrook would move the ball down to the 8 yard line where Tanner Day would miss on a connection with Boone Searles.  The Panthers would have to settle for a Day field goal and a 10-6 lead.

Eastbrook would have a chance to add to the lead on the next possession.  Day would pick off a Haydock pass near midfield.  An errant option pitch would end that drive after just two plays.

The Harding offense would find a little rhythm in the second quarter.  Trevon Carr would strike from 40 yards out to put Harding up 12-10 at the half.

The Hawks put nearly 170 yards rushing in the first half.  The second half would be a different story.  The Panther defense would hold the hawks under 30 yards rushing in the second half and force 3 turnovers. 

Eastbrook would start the second half quickly.  Day would hook up with Benedict on a 60 yard scoring strike to put the Panthers up for good 18-12. 

A three and out would give the Panthers the ball back quickly.  Bendict would score his third of 5 touchdowns.  This one was from 21 yards out and a 24-12 lead.

A Max Widmeyer interception would end the next Hawk drive.  Benedict would again carry the load scoring his fourth touchdown and taking the lead to 31-12.

Benedict would finish his incredible night on Eastbrook’s next possession scoring his 5 touchdown on a short run to make the score 37-12.

Tanner Day would put the exclamation on the night picking off a Hawk pass and returning it for a touchdown for the final score of 44-12. 

Benedict was the offensive story of the night with 5 touchdowns.  He put up almost 300 yards of total offense with just over 200 on the ground. 

Tom Roush led the defense with 14 tackles and a sack.  Boone Searles was next with 12.  The Thompson twins also had a solid performance with 17 tackles combined.  Day would haul in two interceptions and Widmeyer would take down one interception.