When the Catamounts needed their defense to give it a lift, it held the Falcons scoreless in the second half. Then with PC trailing 15-14 late in the third quarter, Catamount defensive back Stephen Womble returned a pick 30 yards to the end zone to give Panther Creek a 20-15.

And on the very next play, the special teams stepped up. Panther Creek's Daniel White recovered an onside kick at Jordan's 22-yard line to set up a seven-play scoring drive capped off by quarterback C.J. Liley's dive from less than one yard out to put the Catamounts up 27-15.

For good measure, Panther Creek — set up by a fumble recovery by Dylan McNamara — drove 42 yards in seven plays and added a 28-yard field goal from Walk Cruikshank to make it 30-15.

"That was a total team win," said PC coach Wayne Bragg.

After Jordan racked up 172 yards in the first half, the Catamounts held the Falcons to 81 yards — and more importantly, zero points — the rest of the way.

Panther Creek kept Jordan star receiver T.J. Thorpe in check during the second half. After torturing the Catamounts with five catches and 138 yards by halftime, Thorpe didn't have a single catch the rest of the way.

"We gave up too many big plays in the first half," Bragg said. "And it goes back to doing the fundamentals. Defense set the tone in the second half and it went from there."

The Catamounts also saw their offense get the job done, as well.

Kel Jackson led the way on the ground, pacing the Catamounts with 165 yards rushing on 24 carries, while Jay Townsend caught three passes for 46 yards to lead PC receivers.

Liley and Kameron Bryant split time at quarterback for PCHS, with Liley going 7-for-13 and 48 yards, and Bryant going 4-for-9 for 45 yards.

It was the all-around game Bragg was looking for as his team moved to 1-1 on the new year.

"Offense punched it in when they had to," Bragg said. "Defense stepped up when they had to."