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The North Penn-Mansfield Panthers kicked off their 2025 football season with a hard-fought 21-14 victory over the Wyalusing Rams on Friday, August 22nd, defending their home field in front of an energized crowd.

The Panthers wasted no time setting the tone. After forcing the Rams to punt on their opening drive, senior playmaker Luke Kreger fielded the return, faked right, cut left, and blazed past defenders for the game’s first touchdown. With Conner Lewis adding the extra point, North Penn-Mansfield jumped ahead early, 7-0.

Kreger wasn’t done making an impact. Later in the first quarter, he intercepted a Wyalusing pass, setting the Panthers up with excellent field position. On the very next play, he capitalized, finding the edge and sprinting into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. Lewis’ PAT stretched the lead to 14-0.

Wyalusing fought back, converting a critical fourth-and-fifteen late in the first before driving inside the 10-yard line. But once again, Kreger came up big for the Panthers, pulling down his second interception to halt the Rams’ momentum.

The Rams eventually broke through for a touchdown before halftime, cutting the deficit to 14-7.

In the third quarter, the Panthers regained control. Kreger pounded his way inside the five-yard line before finishing the drive himself with his third touchdown of the night, pushing the lead to 21-7.

Wyalusing managed one more touchdown in the second half, but the Panthers’ defense held strong when it mattered most, sealing the 21-14 season-opening victory.

The Panthers will look to build on their momentum this Friday as they travel to face the Sayre Redskins.