Celina’s football team extended its perfect start to the season with a 48-14 victory over rival Frisco Panther Creek on Friday evening. The win keeps Celina at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while Panther Creek falls to 3-2.
The matchup took place at David Kuykendall Stadium as both programs adjusted to the recent realignment into Class 5A. Celina established control early and maintained a dominant lead throughout the contest.
Freshman quarterback Zane LaCrue was instrumental in the offensive output. He completed passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns on the night, adding to the 214 passing yards and two scores he recorded in his first three starts. LaCrue connected with sophomore receiver Lamar Taylor for a 92-yard touchdown on a read-option play and later found him again for a 42-yard score.
Senior running back Evan Koehne provided significant support on the ground, rushing for 179 yards and two touchdowns. His first score of the second half was a 25-yard run, followed by a 60-yard touchdown that extended Celina’s lead to 24-0 early in the third quarter.
Panther Creek managed to score twice in the third quarter to narrow the gap. Junior quarterback Tristin Schramm led drives that resulted in touchdowns for senior running back Shawn White. White scored from 4 yards out and later from 16 yards, bringing the score to 31-14 before the end of the frame.
Celina head coach Marc Bindel credited his defensive staff, specifically coach Josh Sharrock, for maintaining the team's defensive structure during the transition. He noted that the players' familiarity with the system helped secure the early wins.