SCARBOROUGH — Powered by three touchdown runs and two TD passes from quarterback Zoltan Panyi, top-seeded Scarborough rolled to a 53-15 win over No. 5 Sanford in a Class A South football semifinal Friday night.
It was the sixth straight win for Scarborough (8-1), which advances to the regional final for the second straight year. The Red Storm will host the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 2 Thornton Academy and No. 3 Bonny Eagle.
Scarborough beat Sanford 49-15 during the regular season, and the rematch was never in doubt as the Red Storm raced to a 27-0 lead after one quarter and stretched it 40-0 by halftime.
“I was a little concerned coming in,” said Scarborough Coach Lance Johnson. “We had the bye week, then we didn’t have school Monday or Tuesday because of the storm, but the kids really stayed focused and came ready to play.”
After forcing a three-and-out on Sanford’s opening possession, the Red Storm needed just five plays to drive 64 yards, with Panyi scoring on a 5-yard draw play.
Cody Dudley recorded a sack and then followed with an interception on Scarborough’s next defensive. On the next play, sophomore speedster Jarrett Flaker took a jet sweep handoff 55 yards to make it 13-0.
Scarborough started its third possession at the Sanford 45 after a short punt, and Dudley ripped off a 43-yard gain. Two plays later, Panyi hit Connor Kelly on a 7-yard slant for another touchdown.
The Red Storm had another short field on their next possession, starting at the Sanford 39. Panyi immediately connected with Reece Lagerquist for a 38-yard strike down the middle, and running back Owen Garrard took a direct snap for a 1-yard TD run.
Scarborough outgained the Spartans 203-14 in the first quarter.
“Offensively and defensively, we played really fast,” said Johnson. “We controlled the ball offensively and really just played aggressive defense. The kids played great.”
The Red Storm defense continued its impressive effort by forcing another punt early in the second. After a good pass rush flushed Panyi out of the pocket, the senior took off up the middle for an 85-yard touchdown.
A 24-yard pass from Panyi to Garrard made it 40-0.
Panyi finished the first half with 114 rushing yards on just five carries. He was also 4 for 4 passing, for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
After a 39-yard kickoff return by Dudley to open the third quarter, Scarborough quickly marched down the field in just five plays, capped by Panyi’s 5-yard run.
Sanford (5-5) responded with its best drive, going 65 yards in 13 plays. The Spartans scored on a 14-yard pass from Xavier Levine to Caleb Saucier.
Andrew Granzier added a 7-yard rushing touchdown for Scarborough.
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