WICHITA— Following a handful of lightning delays the Great Bend High School Panthers were finally able to seal the lid on Wichita North and soured the Redskins homecoming in a 23-12 win during a rain-soaked Friday evening. After a lengthy discussion between game administrators concerning the surrounding storm danger the contest was finally called off with 4:48 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Jacob Murray scored the first of his two touchdowns on a five yard quarterback keeper. Freshman kicker Carlos Franco hit the PAT kick with Great Bend leading 7-0 at the 8:45 mark, first quarter.

The Redskins responded later in the quarter as K.J. Jackson caught the Panthers off guard scoring on a fake punt from 44 yards out. The extra point kick was blocked and Great Bend maintained the advantage up 7-6.

The Panther offense marched down to inside the North 15 yardline. That drive set up an 11-yard scoring run by Murray. Franco added the extra point attempt and Great Bend spread the gap leading the Redskins 14-6 with nine seconds left in the first period.

North returned the favor with 8:48 remaining until the break as Valgene Jones picked off a Murray pass and hauled it in 81 yards for the score. A botched two-point conversion attempt allowed the Panthers to maintain a slim advantage leading 14-12 heading to intermission.

The Panthers hid out in the locker room for half an hour as a long, vertical line of thunderstorms slowly eased their way across the Wichita area at halftime. The lightning temporarily dispersed, the rains descended and both teams were allowed a 10-minute warmup before the start of the third quarter.

After a scoreless third period the Panthers bumped their lead to four on a safety just 11 seconds into the fourth quarter. A little more than a minute later, on the ensuing possession, Great Bend went to Cal Marshall on a three-yard touchdown trot. Franco bingoed on the extra point kick giving the visiting Panthers a 23-12 lead.

The lightning made it’s way back across the heavens in full force and once again the teams were called off the field with 4:48 remaining in the game. Thirty minutes later and after multiple lightning strikes within the eight mile radius the game was officially called.

Marshall carried the ball 19 times for 102 yards while Rames Lopez posted five carries for 60 yards. Murray completed six of 17 passes for 63 yards and suffered two interceptions.

Jose Batres and Mason YellowWolf paced the defense with eight and seven tackles respectively.

The Panthers jump back on the winning track and improve to 3-1 on the season. Great Bend will celebrate homecoming next Friday and return to WAC competition as the Panthers host Dodge City.