REDDING – Etna’s Munson twins turned in hard-nosed plays that bracketed the Lions’ old fashion bashing of the third-seeded U-Prep Panthers last Friday night—sort of like an F-350 running over a Prius.

On the first play from scrimmage, Etna ran a sweep, and wide out Taylor Pehle-Munson hammered U-Prep’s outside linebacker, Travis Buick, clearing the way for Alex Case to rumble 45 yards. Welcome to playoff football.

Late in the game, it was QB Jordan Pehle-Munson that delivered a big blow. Leading 26-13, with about two minutes to play, J. Munson powered for 14 yards crushing two would be tacklers along the way.

The Munson’s weren’t the only brother duo that came up big for Etna. The Case brothers, Alex and Lucas, accounted for over 200 yards in rushing, and on defense pounded just about everything wearing Panther blue.

Etna drove deep into Panther territory on their first drive, but stalled at the 20-yard-line, where U-Prep took over on downs. Etna’s first drive was the only scoring threat by either squad until just past midway in the second quarter.

After T. Munson recovered a Panther fumble, the Lions went to work on the U-Prep 49. L. Case picked up six yards on first down, and then appeared to have a 43-yard TD on the next play. A block in the back penalty negated the TD, but Etna still had a first down at the U-Prep 32. A. Case went for 13 yards to move the ball to the 19. A series of miscues led to the Lions facing a fourth-and-11 on the 20-yard-line. J. Munson then completed a pass to T. Munson for 17 yards and a first down at the 3-yard-line. A. Case took it the rest of the way on the next play. T. Munson added the PAT, and Etna led 7-0, with 2:30 left in the half.

Although Etna had just taken the lead, the final 2:30 of the half was highlight time for the Panthers. On the ensuing kickoff, U-Prep attempted a reverse, but the trickery was sniffed out by Lion David Friden, and the Panthers started from their own 19.

U-Prep advanced to ball to the 30, and then connected on a 36-yard pass play to the Etna 34. Another long pass moved the Panthers inside the 10-yard-line. A 7-yard connection on a slant pattern put the Panthers in the end zone. Add the PAT, and it was tied at 7-7, with 56 ticks on the clock.

Etna fumbled on the first play of its next possession, and U-Prep recovered on the Lion 18. A false start moved the Panthers back five yards to the 23. U-Prep’s next play was a 23-yard TD strike. The PAT was no good, but the Panthers led 13-7, with 38 seconds left in the half.

The Lions were intercepted on their next possession and faced a potential disaster. Etna’s defense, however, came to the rescue to keep it a one score difference going into the intermission, at 13-7.

Etna’s coaching staff shifted some personnel and made some adjustments in their pass coverage at half time, which proved effective in the second half.

U-Prep had the first series of the second half and was forced to punt from its 46. Etna blocked the punt and Seth Jordan recovered the ball on the Panther 40.

On third-and-10, J. Munson hit T. Munson for a 35-yard pass play to the U-Prep 5-yard-line. On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard-line, J. Munson punched through to pay dirt. After the PAT, Etna regained the lead 14-13, with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter.

Etna was intercepted on its next series, but U-Prep’s good fortune was short lived. On their first play of the possession, the Panther QB “completed” a pass to Etna Lion Jordan Munson, who returned the interception 34 yards for a TD. The PAT failed, but with less than a minute left in the third quarter, Etna had increased its lead to 20-13.

The next time the Lions had the ball, they went on a 68-yard drive, capped by a 34-yard TD run by L. Case, to make the score 26-13, with 9:37 remaining on the clock.

With 4:35 left in the game, Etna took over on downs at its 35 and proceeded to burn almost 3:00 off the clock, before turning the ball back to U-Prep on downs at the Panther 38. The Panthers moved to the Etna 36, but no further.

Lucas Case led the Lions’ rushing attack with 107 yards and a TD, Alex Case accounted for 95 yards on the ground and a TD, and Jordan Pehle-Munson had 46 yards and a TD. Taylor Pehle-Munson led Etna in receiving with three catches for 68 yards.

Defensively, A. Case had 12 tackles, J. Munson 10, and Clint Eastlick and T. Munson each had eight. J. Munson returned an interception for a TD. Seth Jordan and both Case brothers each had a sack. Jordan recovered a fumble.

The 26-13 win sends the sixth seeded Lions (8-3) on to a NSCIF D-IV semi-final match with Shasta Cascade League foe, and second-seed, Modoc. Modoc (10-0) defeated Etna 32-6 earlier this season.

Modoc also beat the Lions in the regular season last year, 44-21, but Etna came within a play of pulling off a first round upset of the Braves, losing 13-7.