Gold Beach won the Sunset Conference battle of the titans on Friday, beating visiting Cascade Christian 27-22.

The top-ranked Panthers remained perfect on the season and took the inside track to the league title. Cascade Christian suffered its first league setback since moving up from Class 2A, where the Challengers won the state title last year behind their powerful double-wing attack.

Gold Beach was able to contain that offense Friday night.

“We slowed them down enough defensively,” said Gold Beach coach Kevin Swift. “Our offense did a good job keeping them off the field. We didn’t get all the completions I wanted to have, but we had enough completions to keep the drives going.”

The teams battled to a 14-all tie at halftime before Gold Beach pulled away in the second  half.

Travis Moore got the Panthers going with a 14-yard scoring run in the first quarter, but Daniel Kinney responded with a 28-yard run for the Challengers.

Herbie Smith scored in the second quarter for Gold Beach before Kinney added a second 28-yard scoring run.

Jeffrey Knox and Smith scored for Gold Beach in the third quarter to put the Panthers in control. Ben Heidegger scored a late touchdown for the final margin.

The Panthers had their first game of the year, and came through when they needed to, Swift said.

“They’re a good ballclub,” he said of the Challengers. “It was about as good a high school football game as you could see.”

Moore led Gold Beach’s offense with 109 yards on 24 carries, and the rest of the team followed in stride.

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