In the beginning, it was a golden opportunity lost.

In the end, it was too much Conner Goehring.

Schuylkill Haven defeated Panther Valley 30-6 Friday night on an outstanding performance by the Hurricane’s 6-1, 185-pound sophomore who rushed for 248 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries.

But Goehring’s biggest play happened when he wasn’t on offense.

In their first offensive series, Haven (1-2) had a third-and-10 from their own 23 when a snap from center sailed over quarterback Trent Creasy’s head and bounced all the way to the one-yard line where the Panthers recovered the ball.

With first-and-goal from the one, the Hurricanes stopped PV on three straight downs, including a third down sack of quarterback Michael Pascoe. On fourth-and-goal, Panther Valley’s field goal attempt was blocked by the center of the Haven line and scooped up by Goehring who scampered 95 yards down the right sideline for a 7-0 Haven lead.

PV went three-and-out on the ensuing series, but got the ball back with 3:45 left in the first quarter. Pascoe engineered a nine- play drive, featuring the misdirection running of senior Louis Clouser and a short pass to Julian Matula for a key first down. The drive stalled on a fourth down incomplete pass at the Haven 31-yard line.

The Panthers’ defense forced a punt and PV took over at its own 20. On a second-and-eight from the 22, Pascoe hit tight end Jonathan Byers on a slant for 38 yards. On the drive an apparent TD run by Clouser was nullified by a Panther holding penalty before a Pascoe pass was then intercepted by Creasy in the end zone to end the scoring threat.

Haven’s Goehring then took over the game. He got the edge from the Hurricane 34 and ran past the PV defenders for a 66-yard touchdown.

Following another interception, Haven would add a 22- yard field goal with one second left before intermission for a 17-0 lead.

“We’re just trying to get better,” said Haven coach Mike Farr. “We put some wrinkles into our offense tonight and our defense showed good discipline all game long.”

Panther Valley coach Rich Jones talked aboutd his team’s fundamentals and its lack of aggressiveness.

“We were catching people instead of tackling,” he said. “They really took it to us.”

After Goehring was dragged down at the one after a 62-yard run in the third quarter, Mason Reber put the Hurricanes up 23-0 on a blast up the middle.

The Panthers (1-2) then got on the board when Pascoe picked an errant snap off the ground and found Matula wide open and waiting for the ball at the Haven 20. He easily scored cutting the margin to 23-6 midway through the third quarter.

But Goehring put his finishing touch on the game with another TD run - this one accounting for 60 yards.

“To be honest, I’m disappointed with our effort,” said Jones. “We have a good core of players, but our program is not at the stage yet where we want to be.

“We’re dealing with the cards we’re dealt and we’ll make the best of it until we can change the culture here and turn it around.”

KEY INJURY ... Clouser, PV’s dynamic player, who had cracked Haven’s defense on several counter plays and also had a 37 yard kickoff return left the game with a leg injury at the 10 minute mark of the third quarter.

ONE MAN SHOW ... Goehring singlehandedly outgained the Panthers’ offense, 248-209 as the Hurricane defense held PV to just 67 yards rushing.