This Paradise Panthers Sports Minute is brought to you by Lowery Metals
No. 2 Paradise saw its season end in heartbreaking fashion last week as Peaster punched in a 1-yard run in the closing seconds to claim a 17-14 victory in the Class 3A Division I Region I championship at Porcupine Stadium.
The No. 8 Greyhounds eliminated Paradise, which finished the season 12-2 and fell one win short of returning to the state semifinals. The game resembled the teams’ October meeting, a defensive struggle defined by field position and late-game pressure.
Paradise took a 14-10 lead with eight and a half minutes left when quarterback Ayden Olalde connected with Layne Smith on a 25-yard touchdown pass. But Peaster answered with a two-minute scoring drive, sparked by a 63-yard completion on a long third down that set up the deciding touchdown.
Peaster led 10-7 at halftime, and both defenses controlled a scoreless third quarter before the dramatic finish. Despite the painful end, Paradise closes 2025 with another standout campaign, with a full season recap expected next week.