Blanco fell to Shiner in its home opener last Friday.

The Panthers (1-1) dropped a 69-20 decision to the Comanches (2-0), the top-ranked team in Class 2A.

The Panthers, represented by senior captain Gavin Young, won the toss and deferred possession to the second half. Shiner took little time to score their first touchdown and kick their extra point to take the lead 7-0 early in the first quarter.

Cade Cress returned the Shiner kickoff 32 yards to set up the Panthers with good field position at midfield. With carries by Cody Cross, Jackson Cress and Baylor Smith, the Panthers moved the ball to the Shiner 12-yard line. Quarterback Baylor Smith found Preston Guinn in the end zone for a touchdown reception, before Young held the ball for the successful extra point kick by Nathan Tomlinson to tie the game at 7-7.

The Comanches scored again in the first quarter and added 20 points in the second. Blanco moved the ball inside the five, but a fumble stopped the drive. Shiner led 34-7 at the half.

After the intermission, Shiner put 28 points on the board in the third quarter. The Panthers put together a scoring drive, capped by a run into the end zone by Tomlinson and an extra point kick also by Tomlinson.

In the final stanza, the Comanches scored one touchdown. The Panthers scored again on a 27-yard pass play from Smith to Tomlinson in the end zone.

Shiner has that combination of speed, strength and size that is hard to beat. They are going to still be playing football in December this year.

Smith led the team with 85 yards rushing. He was 4-of-12 passing for 59 yards and two touchdowns. Tomlinson scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, and kicked two extra points. Defensively, Deonte Hector led the team with seven tackles, including five solo. Jackson Cress, Cade Cress and Devin Newsome each made four stops.

Looking forward to this week’s game against the Anderson-Shiro Owls, Smith said, “…We need to focus on playing hard in all four quarters of the game and not taking plays off or hanging our heads when something doesn’t go our way. When we all play up to our full potential as a team we are proven to be successful.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Anderson-Shiro Stadium in Anderson. The Panthers are 1-1 on the season and the Owls are 2-0, with wins over Brazos (21-15) and Somerville (34-7).