Any truck driver knows that a slow start can sometimes make the climb up a steep hill quite a struggle.

Friday night, Panther Valley came out sluggish against Tri-Valley. Then it turned into an uphill battle, with the Panthers never gaining much traction.

As a result, the Bulldogs easily sped past the Panthers, 42-0, marring an otherwise celebratory homecoming.

Tri-Valley scored the first three times it had possession in the first quarter, while PV had three-and-outs three times in a row.

The Bulldogs had 141 first quarter rushing yards to the Panther’s net minus-six in that opening quarter.

Panther Valley produced one legitimate threat the entire game. That was in the second quarter when they drove to the Tri-Valley 10. At one point in the drive, PV quarterback Brody Breiner landed an arched pass to heavily covered receiver Gavin Yuricheck, who made an incredible grab over the defender’s arms in the end zone, but his feet were ruled just outside the white line.

The threat was quelled with Tri-Valley defenders breaking up four.

Tri-Valley had two interceptions, both by junior Doyle Flory.

The passing defense was a solid exclamation point to Tri-Valley’s win.

“We have nine or 10 interceptions so far this year,” coach Jeffrey Sampson said. “We have very good d-backs, and they’ve been doing a good job.”

On most pass plays, the Panthers were mired in heavy coverage.

Sampson said his game plan involved starting the contest in high gear.

“We were pumped up,” he said. “We wanted to come out and take control of the game early and try to put it away as quickly as we can. “They had a two-game winning streak coming in and we knew they were going to be scrappy and tough. They have some really good athletes on the team.”

Coach Mark Levine of Panther Valley was obviously unhappy with the loss.

“This was really disappointing,” he said. “I thought we were ready to play and we just came out slow. They punched us in the mouth from the start, and we never came back.

“It’s pretty disheartening, especially this year.”

In the first quarter, Tri-Valley took the opening kickoff to their 43. They then capped an eight-play drive with a six-yard pass from quarterback Trey Porter to Cole Gemberling with 8:28 showing on the clock.

On their second possession, the Bulldogs took just six plays to cover 55 yards, with the finale coming via Parker Hatter, a 170-pound sophomore, crashing through the Panther line like a battering ram before reaching the end zone.

The third TD was the easiest for the Bulldogs. They took a punt on the Panther 46, and on the first play Hatter rumbled down the left side of the field and into the end zone to make it 21-0 with 2:58 left in the quarter.

The Panthers showed a glimmer of hope in the second period when they began moving the ball from their own 22 to their 43 before the door slammed shut. A pass bounced out the arms of the PV receiver and Flory was there to grab it. Three plays later, a 22-yard pass made the score 27-0.

“They defended our pass well,” Levine said. “They’re big up front. They’re tough kids. We knew that going in. Every single year they’re one of the toughest teams in the league, and if you don’t play tough against them, they’re going to whoop you.”

TOUGH GAME NEXT WEEK … Panther Valley has another tough opponent next Friday night when it travels to Williams Valley. The Vikings are 5-1 this season. In their first three games they outscored their opponents 145-0. Tri-Valley (4-2) is at home against Shenandoah.

STAT CHAT … Tri-Valley had 231 yards rushing. Of that, 109 yards was by Hatter. PV had 55 positive yards rushing and 38 yards on losses, or 21 net yards. Passing, Tri-Valley was 5-of-7, while the Panthers were 8-of-24, getting 65 total yards. The longest pass play for PV was a 19-yarder from Breiner to Chase McArdle.

Tri-Valley 42, Panther Vy. 0

Tri-Valley 21 6 8 7 - 42

Panther Vy. 0 0 0 0 - 0

TV - Gemberling 9 pass from Porter (Hilliard kick)

TV - Hatter 6 run (Hilliard kick)

TV - Hatter 46 run (Hilliard kick)

TV - Schwartz 28 pass from Porter (kick failed)

TV - Schwartz 6 pass from Hatter (Masser pass from Hillard)

TV - Cooper 33 pass from Porter (Hilliard kick)