The quality quartet of Bronson Yoder, Trey Bilinski, Brayton Yoder and DeAndre Smart (left to right) helped No. 2 NorthWood beat Columbia City 52-13 in a sectional opener in Nappaneee Friday night.

NAPPANEE – Calling plays for the high-octane, high-powered NorthWood offense has to be a coaches’ dream.

Trying to slow down the potent Panther attack would have to fit the description of a nightmare.

Columbia City can be the latest to attest to the nightmare part of the equation.

The Class 4-A No. 2 ranked Panthers started postseason play Friday night right where they left off in the regular season.

NorthWood dealt the knockout punch right away with the look of a champion in routing Columbia City 52-13 in a Sectional 19 first-round matchup at Andrews Field.

NorthWood, in improving to 10-0, scored on six of its first seven possessions of the one-sided contest. The Panthers, who entered the game averaging 45 points-per-game, scored 50 or more for the sixth time this season.

The Panthers, who posted their first undefeated regular season since 1996, advance to host Northridge (3-7) next Friday night. The Raiders edged Wawasee 21-20 Friday night in Middlebury. NorthWood beat Northridge 14-0 back on Sept. 23 in a Northern Lakes Conference contest in Middlebury.

Bronson Yoder rambles for a gain.

NorthWood, which has a plethora of playmakers, wasted no time Friday night. The hosts took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards, capped off by a 34-yard touchdown toss from outstanding senior quarterback Trey Bilinski to senior Drew Minnich. Sophomore Bronson Yoder scored on a run for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.

The Panthers then quickly showcased their big-play ability to make it 24-0 in a blink of an eye.

First, junior Brayton Yoder broke free and raced 59 yards, past, over and around a slew of Columbia City defenders for a touchdown. Bronson Yoder once again ran in the two-point conversion and it was 16-0.

Then,  just 2:01 later, Bilinski hit Bronson Yoder on a gorgeous deep throw down the middle that turned into an 89-yard pitch and catch for another score. Junior Payton Bear added the two-point conversion on a run to make it 24-0.

NorthWood added three more touchdowns in the second period for a 45-0 halftime edge. Bear scored on a five-yard run with 7:58 to play, followed by an 18-yard touchdown toss from Bilinski to junior Landen Gessinger and capped by a four-yard scoring run by Bear with 45.8 seconds before halftime.

The Panthers dominated both sides of the ball for the first 24 minutes. The defense forced the Eagles into five three-and-out possessions and stopped them once on fourth and two near midfield. Columbia City did not have a single first down in the opening half.

“I thought that our kids executed well in all three phases of the game tonight and took care of business,” said third-year NorthWood coach Nate Andrews. “Our seniors led and our underclassmen followed. That is the way it is supposed to be. We accomplished our goals in the first half.

Outstanding NorthWood quarterback Trey Bilinski tossed three more touchdown passes Friday night. The senior now has 31 on the season for his undefeated team.

“We have a complement of guys who are key for us and a number of weapons. It’s nice to have guys like that and it’s a lot of fun to call plays with the players we have. Coach Will (Willy Will) does a great job with that. It starts up front. Our offensive line has developed a great continuity and really come along this season.

“Trey had a good offseason in preparation for this year. He put in a lot of work. He has improved physically, but more importantly he has improved mentally. That’s where his confidence comes from.”

The Eagles, who finish at 3-7, scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns versus the Panther backup defensive unit. Freshman quarterback Max Bedwell, who came on for starter Brock Snouffer, hit Noah Judd on a 63-yard touchdown strike. Bedwell then scored on a five-yard run with 2:44 to play in the game.

NorthWood had one second half score as Andrews elected to play a lot of younger players the majority of the second half. Gessinger scored on a three-yard run on a fourth-and-goal play with 4:48 left in the game.

The intense and energetic Andrews, who was a star on the last NorthWood team to go undefeated back in 1996,  did not have a lot to say about playing Northridge again.

“It’s always tough to play someone twice in the same season, but we are looking forward to it,” concluded the NorthWood boss.

The win over the Raiders last month was the closest and the lowest scoring game of the season for NorthWood. The Panthers, after Friday night, have now won their 10 games by an average of 28 points-per-contest.

NorthWood had a whopping 659 total yards, 333 rushing and 326 passing, in the dominating win. The Panthers had a  21-4 edge in first downs and the Eagles finished with 168 total yards, most of those coming in the final quarter.

Bilinski went 12-21 passing for 311 yards in another stellar showing and his three touchdown passes now give him 31 for the season.

Brayton Yoder led a well-balanced ground game with 10 carries for 113 yards. Gessinger had seven rushes for 68 yards, while Bear had eight for 58 and Bronson Yoder six for 40.  Six different receivers caught passes with Gessinger hauling in five for 75 yards and Bronson Yoder two for 124 to lead the way.

The Panthers did have a pair of turnovers (on fumbles) and eight penalties.

Jacob Chupp gains yards for the Panthers.