Paradise Panthers Aim to Extend Dominance in 4-3AI with Friday Night Clash Against Ponder
PONDER,TX – Coming off a bye week,the Paradise Panthers (7-1,4-0) are poised to continue thier pursuit of a second consecutive district title as they travel to face the Ponder Lions at 7 p.m. Friday at Lion Stadium. The Panthers, currently ranked No. 2 in the state in 3A Division I by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, look to secure their fifth win in district play.
Paradise enters the contest as heavy favorites, having defeated Ponder 40-16 last season en route to their first-ever district championship. However, the Lions (5-3, 2-3) will be looking to rebound after a 24-8 loss to Peaster in Week 9, a result that has dampened their season following a 4-0 start.
The Panthers demonstrated resilience in their last outing, narrowly defeating peaster 21-15 on Oct. 17. A late-game defensive play proved decisive, as defensive lineman Beau Chenevert sealed the victory with an 18-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Offensively, Paradise relied on a balanced attack. running back Luke Brown contributed 50 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while Chase Harmon added a 5-yard rushing score. Quarterback Ayden Olalde completed nine of 15 passes for 91 yards, connecting frequently with wide receiver Logan Lampley, who had three receptions for 44 yards.
According to the Harris line, Paradise is favored to win by 24 points.
