{"id":52144,"date":"2026-09-07T16:13:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T20:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/?p=52144"},"modified":"2026-09-07T16:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T20:13:10","slug":"panthers-dominate-north-central-in-46-0-shutout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/panthers-dominate-north-central-in-46-0-shutout\/","title":{"rendered":"Panthers Dominate North Central in 46-0 Shutout"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Senior Jalen Manz is handed the ball and runs around into the end zone, scoring the last touchdown before the half. More pictures at engagingexposures.com<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

PAULDING \u2014 The Paulding Panthers turned in a dominant performance on both sides of the football Friday night, rolling past North Central 46-0 on August 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paulding controlled the game from the outset, taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter before exploding for 26 points in the second to carry a commanding 33-0 advantage into halftime. The Panthers added six more points in the third quarter and seven in the fourth to complete the shutout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Panthers piled up 373 yards of offense while holding North Central to minus-21 total yards. Paulding\u2019s defense was especially effective against the run, limiting North Central to minus-43 yards on 15 rushing attempts. The visitors managed just two first downs and completed five of 21 passes for 22 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paulding\u2019s offense did most of its damage through the air, finishing with 320 passing yards and six touchdowns. Ridge Hunt led the way, completing 16 of 24 passes for 230 yards and five touchdowns. Wes Grindstaff was 4-of-5 for 86 yards and another score, while Sawyer Hunt completed one pass for four yards. The Panthers did not throw an interception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordan Manz was Ridge Hunt\u2019s favorite target, catching seven passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns. Jalen Manz added three receptions for 47 yards and two scores, while Nick Baughman caught four passes for 60 yards. Grady Arend recorded two receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown, and Emmet Barnes added three catches for 31 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paulding opened the scoring with 10:22 remaining in the first quarter when Ridge Hunt connected with Jordan Manz for a 25-yard touchdown. The Panthers then broke the game open in the second quarter. Hunt found Jalen Manz for a 24-yard score before connecting with Jordan Manz for touchdowns of 20 and 10 yards. A six-yard touchdown pass from Hunt to Jalen Manz helped Paulding build its 33-0 halftime advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defense and special teams joined the scoring in the third quarter. Arend blocked a North Central punt and returned it for a touchdown, pushing the margin to 39-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paulding finished the scoring with 7:36 remaining in the fourth quarter when Grindstaff connected with Arend for a one-yard touchdown pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the passing attack supplied most of the offense, Avery Cooper led Paulding on the ground with 34 yards on seven carries. Jalen Manz added 10 yards on one attempt as the Panthers finished with 53 rushing yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Paulding defense was equally impressive. Jason Manz recorded an interception, while Grindstaff picked off two North Central passes. Javvon Stiltner led the Panthers with five tackles, including four tackles for loss. Cooper had four tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack, while Jalen Manz finished with four tackles and a tackle for loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paulding never needed to punt and finished with 11 first downs compared with only two for North Central. The Panthers ran 45 offensive plays and held North Central to negative total yardage in a complete performance that resulted in the 46-point shutout victory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PAULDING \u2014 The Paulding Panthers turned in a dominant performance on both sides of the football Friday night, rolling past<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":52145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6,7,5],"tags":[30009,8483,23510,14349,5115,5051,27500],"class_list":["post-52144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-school","category-sports","tag-emmet-barnes","tag-high-school-football","tag-jalen-manz","tag-nick-baughman","tag-north-central-eagles","tag-paulding-panthers","tag-wes-grindstaff"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t