The annual showdown between Pickerington North and Pickerington Central was one for the books, high energy, and a packed house at North Stadium. In a game defined early by hard-nosed defense, it was the Panthers who ultimately delivered the knockout blows in the fourth quarter, pulling away to earn a 17-3 victory over their crosstown rivals.

Both teams came out aggressive on defense, trading punts and big hits as they fought for control in the early going. But midway through the first quarter, the home crowd erupted as North’s senior running back Andyriq Thomas broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run, slicing through the Central defense and putting the Panthers up 6-0. Kicker Brandon Fowler knocked in the PAT to make it 7-0.

Pickerington Central found their footing in the second quarter, piecing together a methodical drive behind steady quarterback play and a few key third-down conversions. Though the drive stalled inside the 10, kicker Mason Peirano put the Tigers on the board with a 22-yard field goal, trimming the deficit to 7-3.

The third quarter was a gritty, defensive battle. Neither team could gain much traction, and the score remained unchanged heading into the final frame.

That’s when Pick North took over.

With just over eight minutes left, Fowler drilled a 32-yard field goal to extend the Panthers’ lead to 10-3. Moments later, Thomas delivered the highlight of the night — an electrifying 86-yard touchdown run that blew the game wide open. He slipped through an arm tackle at the line of scrimmage, bounced to the outside, and sprinted untouched down the sideline. Fowler’s extra point made it 17-3, and the Panthers never looked back.

Thomas finished with 224 yards on the ground and both of North’s touchdowns, ultimately giving him the MVP for the night. Fowler was perfect on the night, and the Panthers’ defense was lights out — holding Central out of the end zone and allowing just three points.

With the win, Pickerington North defends their home turf and claims early-season bragging rights in one of the state’s fiercest rivalries. A statement win, and a reminder: the road to the OCC title might just run through North.