Panthers get offense rolling

Adam Candee

Friday, Sept. 26, 2003 | 10:48 a.m.

It took just 15 seconds of the second half to understand that this would not be a typical Northwest Division game Thursday at Palo Verde.

At the 6-minute mark of the third quarter, Cimarron-Memorial quarterback Dylan Hinton scored on a 1-yard sneak to cut the Spartans' deficit to two touchdowns. On the kickoff, Palo Verde's Jamal Brumfield received at his own 5-yard line, sprinted toward the wedge, then burst loose down the right sideline for a 95-yard return touchdown that broke Cimarron's momentum.

Call off the offensive bonanza. Where was the collar-grabbing defense? The nail-biter outcome?

There would be none of it on this night, as Palo Verde rolled over Cimarron's defense en route to a 55-21 pasting of the Spartans on the opening night of division play in local prep football.

Palo Verde coach Darwin Rost, whose Panthers triumphed by a 2-0 final against Cimarron (3-2, 0-1 Northwest) last season, enjoyed watching his team easily pass -- or more aptly, rush through -- its first big test.

"I'm just pleased with the way we executed on offense," Rost said. "I don't know what else to say. The execution was huge for us. It's not just our offense, but I thought our special teams came in and did a great job for us too."

Jarrell Harrison, Tyree Walton, and Brumfield compiled the majority of 350 rushing yards for Palo Verde (5-0, 1-0 Northwest). Walton scored on runs of 2, 5, 14, and 47 yards, while Harrison and Brumfield both rushed for one touchdown.

"We were running hard, as we do all year, and we came out on top," Walton said.

Palo Verde's double-wing offense, an eye-challenging array of traps, dives, spins and fakes, confounded the Spartans' defense and allowed the Panthers to run off numerous long drives. Though still reliant on the run, Palo Verde did mix in a couple of passes.

"I thought our little play-action kept them guessing a bit," Rost said. "They kind of got a little confused with that."

Palo Verde attempted just one punt in the game, which failed because of a high snap over the punter. It was about the only time the Cimarron defense got a clear look at the ball all night.

The Panthers jumped out to a 14-0 lead late in the second quarter on the first of Walton's four touchdown runs. The teams traded touchdown before the Panthers blocked a Cimarron punt with 35 seconds left in the half, giving them the ball at the Spartans' 10 and a good dose of energy.

Walton converted the big play with a 2-yard scoring run to give Palo Verde a 28-7 halftime lead that Cimarron never seriously challenged. The Spartans twice cut Palo Verde's edge to 14 points in the second half, but the Panthers quickly responded with touchdowns both times.

For the Spartans, Hinton finished 6-of-19 for 68 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Mark Abila carried 16 times for 84 yards and a touchdown.