CARY — Even without top wrestler Joe Morrison and another starter, Panther Creek kept its undefeated year going Wednesday with a 48-19 home win over rival Green Hope.

In a showdown of two dual-team playoff squads from a year ago, the Catamounts (15-0, 4-0) jumped out to an early 18-0 lead with three consecutive pins and never looked back. Panther Creek won nine matches, including six pins, while Green Hope won five yet three were minor decisions.

With a number of seniors hoping to build on last year's run to the NCHSAA sectionals, Panther Creek coach Jon Armfield said this year's team has been especially strong. Morrison, who placed third in the state last year, was out with injury but the rest of the team hardly missed a beat.

“I had some question marks going into the season with this team compared to last season, because we were so strong last season,” Armfield said. “I think all in all, we're a stronger team, especially with our juniors and senior stepping it up.”

Keith Ruther (171 pounds) started things off for the Catamounts with a third-period pin of Green Hope's Johnny Choo. The next two pins came quicker. Jamey Drennen (189) won with a pin in 1:02 and Sheridan Rucker (215) did the same in 0:42.

Green Hope (14-4, 3-2) got its first points when heavyweight Nate Reynolds scored a 7-3 win over Mike Sutton, bringing the score to 18-3.

The Falcons were poised to win their second consecutive match, but Panther Creek freshman and 103-pounder Nathan Allison scored a reverse and pinned his opponent with just 30 seconds left in the match after being down 8-6.

Green Hope's John Sparks (112) won a close 6-5 match over Saugat Neupane and teammate Alex Jin (119) scored a 10-0 major decision to cut the lead to 24-10 with seven matches to go.

The two teams traded wins — a Panther Creek tech fall by Ben Elliot (125) was answered by a Green Hope pin by Clay Gailey (130) at 1:12.

With the score at 29-16 and still anyone's match at five matches to go, Panther Creek took over.

Patrick Santoro's 4-0 minor decision at 135-pounds and Dan Kavulich's 11-1 major decision at 140 clinched the match for the Catamounts.

Green Hope coach Chip Bunn wasn't happy with his team's effort for the night. With conference losses to Cary and Panther Creek already, the Falcons are in a tough spot when it comes to returning to the state dual-team playoffs. Only the top two teams in each conference receive automatic bids, while the others are wild cards.

“They're supposed to beat us, no doubt, but we had some guys who just didn't toughen it up, suck it up before the match,” Bunn said. “You don't get in to the wild card with seven or eight losses. You get in with three or five, so we've got a big task ahead of us.”

Joey Baird, last year's runner-up at 140, moved up a class at 145 and only mustered a 7-1 minor decision. Limiting the Falcons' top wrestler to just three team points elated the Cats' coach.

“We knew Joey Baird, going into it, wherever he was going to be was going to be tough,” Armfield said. “We told Tony [Santoro] to wrestle a smart match and he did.”

David Grissom (152) and Keith Nelson (160) each scored pins — Nelson's coming with just one second left in the second period — to close to out the match.

In one unofficial statewide poll, the Catamounts are ranked No. 3 in the state, two spots behind Tri-Nine foe Cary. Those two won't meet with one another until Feb. 3, and last year's match-up was the narrowest margin of victory in Cary's undefeated year.

Unlike last year, when Armfield dreaded having to face the Imps, he looks forward to this year's meeting.

“I think we match up against them well. There're so many things that can happen between now and the beginning of February so it's hard to tell,” Armfield said. “Hopefully we're healthy and hopefully we take on them as a healthy team and if we win it's because we're a better team. That's what we've been looking forward to since last year.

“I think we have a team that could win against Cary, but I'm not making any predictions.”