Defensively, one could argue that the rust showed.

Eight touchdowns on seven drives is hard to fathom, but Wilson did it Friday night.

The Lakemen made a statement at Hillis Field in one of Class D’s more intriguing matchups of the early season, defeating the Panthers 56-22.

With 21 points in each of the first two quarters, seven consecutive touchdown drives by the Wilson offense, and a punt return for a touchdown mixed in, the Panthers suffered one of the more humbling defeats a team can suffer in its home opener.

Gowanda/Pine Valley quarterback Carter Capozzi throws a pass during the first half against the Wilson Lakemen on Friday at Hillis Field in Gowanda. OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen

Even with the layoff due to the forfeit a week ago, Panthers head coach Brett Ebling did not make any excuses after the loss.

“We just didn’t show up today. Simple as that,” he said.

From the opening series, it just was not the Panthers’ night. Wilson (3-0, 2-0) scored the game’s first touchdown on a deep ball by Vic Cusatis that appeared to be broken up by the Gowanda/Pine Valley (2-1, 1-1) defense. Instead, the ball was batted right into the arms of Wilson receiver Ryan Hough for a 29-yard touchdown.

“That’s sports for you — you don’t know how the ball is going to bounce, especially in a game like football,” Ebling said. “Sometimes it’s in your favor and sometimes it’s not.”

Things went from bad to worse for the hometown Panthers.

After three-and-out on their opening possession, Wilson punt returner Michael Ruble received the Gowanda/Pine Valley punt at his own 40-yard line, broke a tackle, and took off upfield. Ruble seared the Panthers special teams unit for a 60-yard touchdown to put the visiting Lakemen ahead two touchdowns, while Gowanda/Pine Valley had run just three plays on offense.

It only snowballed from there, as Wilson added a 4-yard touchdown run from Brock Lepsch for a 21-0 lead with 3:10 remaining in the opening quarter. All of a sudden, the Panthers trailed by three touchdowns before even managing a first down.

As bad as things were for the Panthers, the team’s spirits stayed high on the sidelines, just as they did in the stands.

The Gowanda faithful erupted as Carter Capozzi connected with Trelin Warrior for a first down on the Panthers’ third drive. The two connected again on a deep ball down the middle of the field on fourth-and-12 that Warrior took to the Wilson 1-yard line. With just a second left in the opening period, Cayden Redford took it in from a yard out for the first six points for the Panthers.

The Wilson offense just kept rolling all night long. Nick Lemke added to the lead with a 3-yard run for a 28-6 lead.

Still, the Panthers answered with a touchdown of their own, as Winter Mentley-Peters caught a pass from Capozzi down the Gowanda/Pine Valley sideline to set the offense up at the Wilson 5-yard line. Mentley-Peters took it in for a score two plays later, followed by a 2-point conversion to pull to within two scores, 28-14.

It never got closer than that, as Wilson scored two more times before the break, including a 35-yard touchdown pass on fourth down from Cusatis to Hough, their second connection of the game. A potential interception was dropped on the previous play.

Cusatis added insult to injury with a read-option keeper down the Wilson sideline for a 55-yard touchdown run. Wilson’s sixth touchdown of the game — and the fifth by the offense — came with just 15 seconds left in the first half, as Wilson took possession at its own 40 with just 64 seconds left in the half.

The Panthers managed to move the ball into the red zone to start the second half, but a run on fourth-and-4 was stuffed for a loss of 2. A dead-ball personal foul after the possession changed sent Wilson back to their own 11-yard line to start their first drive of the second half.

It didn’t matter. Even an 89-yard drive looked easy for the Lakemen.

Nick Lemke took the handoff on third-and-6 behind the left side of the offensive line for a 70-yard run, flipping field position from his own 15 to that of the Panthers. Cusatis finished the drive off with a pass in the back of the end zone with a toe-tap from Skyler Aydelotte for another Wilson touchdown.

The Panthers gave their fans another chance to celebrate on the ensuing drive, as Damien Cedri took a handoff 12 yards for the touchdown. Capozzi found Warrior for the 2-point conversion, and the home crowd erupted as if the 27-point deficit didn’t exist.

“We dug ourselves in a hole and we played catch up, but the kids stayed positive. They kept working, and that’s the biggest thing I want to see,” Ebling said. He later added, “We stay up no matter what. We stay positive and we keep working. The only thing we worry about is us.”

Soon after Cedri’s touchdown run, the Panthers’ deficit was right back over 30.

The Lakemen kept their magic alive with the next drive, as Ruble punched in another touchdown from 2 yards out. It marked the seventh consecutive touchdown drive by the offense — and that’s not including the punt return touchdown.

By the time the fourth quarter began, Wilson was already set up at first-and-goal from the 6-yard line, looking to keep up its flawless offensive output. Ruble appeared to run it in on the first play of the fourth quarter, but a holding penalty backed Wilson up 10 yards. Ruble fumbled the ball on the next carry and the Panthers recovered.

The fourth quarter turnover represented the first stop of the game by the Panthers defense. The entire fourth quarter was scoreless on both sides.

Gowanda/Pine Valley played Friday’s game without all-state linebacker Camryn Slade, who was injured in a scrimmage just before the season began. His absence was clearly felt throughout.

The Panthers hope to get back on track next week, as they travel to Allegany-Limestone/Hinsdale. The Panthers are on the road again the following week against Cattaraugus-Little Valley, coached by Gowanda native Mark Benton. Wilson hosts Silver Creek/Forestville next week.

“We’re going to come back, we’re going to get better, and we’re going to learn from this,” Ebling said. Referring to Wilson, he said, “I’m sure we’ll see these guys again, and we’re going to be ready.”