This Paradise Panthers Sports Minute is brought to you by Lowery Metals
A familiar face awaits the Panthers in the Class 3A Division I Region I championship game Friday night.
No. 2 Paradise meets District 3-4A rival Peaster for the right to advance to the state semifinals. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Springtown’s Porcupine Stadium. Both teams enter the game at 12-1. Paradise is seeking its second straight trip to the state semifinals.
The first meeting between these teams on Oct. 17 in Paradise was tense. The Panthers took the lead late in the fourth quarter on a fumble-return touchdown, and the defense held on for a 21-15 win.
Last week, Paradise topped No. 5 Tuscola Jim Ned 27-7 in the regional semifinals. Quarterback Ayden Olalde threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense limited the Indians to 228 total yards and recorded two interceptions. Jim Ned’s touchdown was the first score Paradise has allowed in the postseason.
Peaster has been equally impressive, allowing just a field goal in three playoff games. The Greyhounds beat 3-4A rival Vernon last week, 36-3. This one could be epic.