Centralia has had its running game to lean on this season.

Hallsville, in its second matchup with the Panthers this year, made sure that wasn’t the case Friday night in a 22-8 loss for Centralia in the Class 2 District 7 semifinals at Miller Field in Centralia. The Panthers (7-3) finished with a season-low 35 yards rushing on 16 carries — by far their lowest total of the season in front of the 169 at Clark County — despite piling 318 rushing yards on the Indians (6-5) in the first meeting.

Quarterback Cullen Bennett threw for 121 yards and a touchdown on 10-for-25 passing, Jesse Caballero caught the 49-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter while finishing with 73 yards on three catches and seven tackles on defense, and Kyden Wilkerson and Seth Hasekamp led the team with eight tackles each while Jesse Shannon and Brayden Shelton each had two tackles for loss.

Head coach Tyler Forsee said all season long that his offensive line showed up frequently this season, which led to the team averaging about 237 yards this season. Wilkerson, who was named as a first team Clarence Cannon Conference running back and defensive back in the previous week, ran for 1,369 yards for an average of 137 per game. Wilkerson was held to 16 yards on eight carries on Friday.

“Their defense was on point,” Forsee said. “They did a good job shutting our run game down. I didn’t see that happening with as well we ran the ball last time. They were physical and ready to play. I thought our kids fought hard, but we were not able to establish a line of scrimmage. Anytime that happens, you’re going to have a tough time winning the game.”

Hallsville also had a new quarterback-running back combination from the first meeting it lost 26-20 in early September. Brayden Matheney was taking snaps instead of Colton Nichols and Harrison Fowler was the leading rusher instead of, once again, Nichols. Matheney threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns on 15-for-20 passing while Fowler ran for 147 yards and a touchdown on 41 carries.

Forsee said the preparation is different for each Hallsville quarterback as Nichols was always a threat to run while Matheney can really throw the ball, which the Panthers struggled with stopping.

“He did a good job throwing the ball and distributing it around,” Forsee said. “It was definitely a different game plan. We didn’t know who we were going to have so we planned a little bit for both. The Matheney throws the ball exceptionally well. Nichols is such a strong runner.”

After a three-and-out on Centralia’s first offensive drive, Matheney and Fowler alternated gains until Matheney hit Ayden Lampkins for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 8-0. Another Panther three-and-out preceded another Hallsville touchdown drive, making it 14-0, after Fowler ran it in. 

Matheney was able to throw his second touchdown pass with 16 seconds left to make it 22-0 at halftime. 

Centralia scored its touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter and advanced the ball into Hallsville territory on one more drive but weren’t able to come away with points. The Indians, on the other hand, were able to stay on offense as they converted on 11-for-19 third downs.

Centralia’s season ends for the second straight year after a loss to Hallsville but achieved its fourth straight winning season and seventh in the previous eight years. This year’s Panthers held opposing teams to 15.5 points per game — its lowest mark in three seasons — and will have to move on without seniors such as Wilkerson, Shannon, Hasekamp, Shelton, Ethan Adams, Payton Mabrey, Evan Brumback, Nathan Timpe and Jack Romine 

Last week, Centralia collected 11 selections on the all-conference team, with nine different players receiving honors. Hasekamp and Wilkerson were named to the offensive and defensive teams while the Centralia defense had five all-CCC players, including Shannon, Wilkerson, Hasekamp, Shelton and Adams. Bennett was selected as a punter, Timpe as a kicker, and Mabrey and Brumback each as offensive linemen.

“I was impressed how well (the seniors) have come,” Forsee said. “They’ve come so far as football players and human beings both from where they were in middle school until now. They did a great job leading the football team, and they were a pleasure to coach.”