Led by the rushing of Channing Wise, the passing of Jervious Epherson and solid special teams play, the Northshore Panthers defeated the Hammond Tornadoes Friday night, 56-21. Wise carried 14 times for 233 yards, and Epherson completed 10-of-12 passes for 143 yards and two scores. For homestanding Hammond, Torian Weber had 232 yards on 19 carries and two scores, including an 80-yard run around left end. Justin Betts added 60 yards on nine carries for the Tors.

After Hammond went three-and-out on its first possession, the Panthers’ Taylor Eads broke through the line to block the punt off the foot of Brandon Thomas, and Northshore took over at the 2. Wise scored on the first play, and with less than two minutes gone, the Panthers had a quick 7-0 lead.

Coach Mike Bourg was quick to praise Wise.

Channing Wise

“I feel great for him. We didn’t know if he would start. He’s matured so much. He’s got to be among the rushing leaders in the area,” he said.

After Daniel Flot boomed another kickoff through the end zone, Hammond began its next series on the 20. On the second play, Jimmy Wentworth hauled in the first of his two interceptions on the 50-yard line and went untouched down the right side for the score. Tyler Foltz’s PAT was good, and Northshore led, 14-0.

Hammond then went on a drive starting on its 27-yard-line, consuming over six minutes down to the Panther 23. The drive stalled on the Northshore 49, but a beautifully-timed fake punt gained 28 yards down to the Panthers’ 21 gave new life to the Tornadoes. The snap went to the upback, Jon-Michael Williams, who went through the middle of the Panther defense. The drive stalled once again at the Panther 23, and Thomas’ field goal attempt was wide left.

After taking over on its 20, Northshore’s Epherson hit Archie Ambo in stride at midfield, and Ambo glided into the end zone with 3:17 remaining in the first quarter. The Panthers were up, 21-0.

Late in the first quarter, Northshore began a drive on its own 23. An Epherson pass to Breck Kline picked up 26 to the 49. Epherson then peppered the Hammond defense with short passes of 5 yards to Ambo, 2 yards to Andrew Cossé and another 5 yards to Kline. Wise then broke off a 25-yard run up the middle and closed out the drive with a 14-yard scoring run. Again, the PAT was good, and Northshore had a 28-0 lead with about nine minutes to go in the half.

Weber electrified the crowd with his 80-yard dash on the ensuing possession, and Hammond narrowed the gap to 28-7.

The Tornadoes tried the element of surprise by attempting an onsides kick after the score, but the ball was covered by the Panthers, who were in business on the Hammond side of the field. Wise ripped off a 35-yard run up the middle, and Epherson scored two plays later.

Wentworth collected his second interception on Hammond’s next possession, and the Panthers made the score 42-7 when Mark Bertel scored from a yard out. The drive included a 27-yard run by Wise.

The second half began with Northshore driving 80 yards in 10 plays. Epherson rolled left on third-and-nine from the 16 and couldn’t find a receiver. He cut back to the right, where he found Ben Cardon in the end zone, and the score ballooned to 49-7 midway through the third period. The drive started with a 40-yard run by Wise.

After forcing another three-and-out by the Tors, Hayden Stubbs blocked a Hammond punt, and two plays later Northshore closed out itsscoring as Bertel scored his second touchdown on a 4-yard carry.

Hammond didn’t quit. The Tors went on an eight play, 80-yard drive, including runs of 7, 10 and 15 yards by Weber and 10, 28 and 6 yards by Betts, before Betts bulled his way into the end zone. The point-after was no good, however, and the Tors cut into the lead, 56-13.

Hammond closed out the scoring with a two-play, 48-yard drive with Weber doing all the damage with a 35-yard carry and a 13-yard touchdown run, beating the Northshore defense to the left side of the end zone.

The Panthers will host St. Paul’s Friday, while Hammond is at Covington.