Once-beaten Paola fell behind early on the road at Bonner Springs, but the Panthers’ ground attack and stingy defense proved to be too much in a 37-14 victory for the visitors.
Bonner Springs recovered a fumble on the opening kick and cashed in on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Caden Henley to Mason Dobbs.
Paola evened the score by the end of the first and began to distance themselves in the second.
Rushing TDs by Colton Gleghorn, one in the first quarter and another with 9:05 left in the half put Paola on top 14-7.
The lead stretched to 14 on 38-yard scamper by Kurt Golubski with 3:26 left in the half.
Bonner Springs made it a one-score game again (21-14) heading into halftime, but the second half was all Paola.
The Panthers shutout the Braves out over the final two quarters while putting up 16 points of their own.
Golubski’s second rushing score made it 28-14 with just over four minutes left in the third.
A 22-yard field goal from Ryan Wokutch pushed the lead to 17 and the Panthers capped the win with a defensive score as Drew Smith came up with the 46-yard, pick-6 with 5:18 left in the game.
The win improves Paola’s record to 5-1 ahead of a home game with Ottawa next week.
Bonner Springs (3-3) travels to Pittsburg next Friday night.