TUNKHANNOCK — Panther Valley head coach Mark Lavine said it was a “bend-but-not-break mentality” that helped his team survive against Tunkhannock on Friday night.

The Panthers completely controlled the host Tigers in the first half, but then had to fight off the determined Wyoming County squad before emerging with a 27-18 victory. The Panthers improved to 3-2 with the win, while the Tigers fell to 0-5.

“Our defense was a bend-and-not-break,” Lavine said. “I thought we were really good in the first half. They pushed us a little bit in the second half, but we still didn’t break and give up.”

PV erupted to a 20-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The Tigers suddenly came to life, and it was a doozy of a battle the rest of the night.

“We talk about teams looking for momentum,” Lavine said. “You can’t give them momentum. That’s what we did. They took advantage of that momentum.

“But our kids found a way and like I told them, you never apologize for a win.”

Having a big role in PV’s offense was wide receiver Chase McArdle, a 6-3, 190-pound junior.

He had 40 yards on three pass receptions and 116 yards on five carries.

One of those carries was an 87-yard zigzag across the field for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. At the time, PV had a 20-12 lead.

McArdle took a handoff at the left hash, ran diagonally to his right then up the right sideline before cutting to his left at about his 40. He ran at a slight angle and completed the run up the left sideline, escaping several Tiger defenders. That score gave PV a 27-12 cushion with just 11 minutes to play.

McArdle also scored a first-quarter touchdown to successfully complete a trick play.

It was a 29-yard pass play. Quarterback Cy Maynard tossed the ball back to sophomore Corrigan Crampsie in the backfield. Crampsie hurled the ball to McArdle at the 10 and he waltzed into the end zone.

“He’s a special player,” Lavine said of McArdle.

Regarding the 87-yard run, Lavine said, “That was a huge play at a big time in the game for us. In big games you need to step up and that’s what he did.”

PV took an 8-0 lead on its first possession, which was capped with a four-yard run by junior Troy Nunez. During that drive, McArdle teamed with Maynard for an 11-yard pass play.

Nunez had two running touchdowns. In the second quarter, he broke through left tackle and was pursued to the end zone when he was tackled rodeo-style, but in pay dirt.

In that first quarter, Panther Valley completely manhandled the Tigers. PV had seven first down while Tunkhannock had none. The Panthers had 76 rushing yards and 46 passing yards while the Tigers had minus nine offensive yards.

That domination continued for most of the second quarter before Tunkhannock began showing some life. The rest of the night was a battle.

In the second quarter, PV amassed 109 yards rushing and 45 yards passing. The opponent managed 43 rushing yards but got 53 yards on three pass completions.

Things turned around for the Panthers in the third quarter, netting negative-one net yard while the Tigers got 127 total yards: 60 rushing and 67 on two completed passes. Tunkhannock had six third-quarter first downs, while PV had zero.

Lavine praised Maynard for his performance.

“His composure was great as usual,” he said. “We ran him hard, and I don’t think we gave him great time today. But he made some completions while running around.”

NEXT UP ... Panther Valley has another away game next week, traveling to Blue Mountain for a Schuylkill League matchup.

Panther Vy. 27, Tunkhannock 18

Panther Vy. 14 6 0 7 - 27

Tunkhannock 0 6 6 6 - 18

PV - Nunez, 4 run (Ahn pass from Maynard).

PV - McArdle, 29-pass from Crampsie (kick blocked)

PV - Nunez, 38 run (run failed)

T - Carter, 25-pass from Cokely (run failed)

T - Newell, 24-pass from Cokely (kick blocked)

PV - McArdle 87 run (Gjoca kick)

T - Ciprich, 1 run (pass failed)