marie@pvdemocrat.com — The rivalry between Pauls Valley and Lindsay heated up on a cool Friday night at Burford Field in Lindsay.

Lindsay used a big second half to run past Pauls Valley beating the Panthers 43-26.

Lindsay quarterback Jake Standridge had a big night with three touchdown passes and two touchdown runs for the Leopards.

Dewayne Sanders had a big night on both sides of the ball for Pauls Valley scoring twice on long passes and setting up a second half touchdown with a stripe and fumble recovery that kept the game close.

But Standridge and the Leopards behind a big second half pulled away for the 17-point win.

Pauls Valley was driving to start the game and was inside the Leopard 20 with a first down. JC. Eyabi had a big carry inside the 15 and his forward momentum seemed to be stopped but the play wasn’t whistled dead and Lindsay stripped the ball and recovered at their own 8.

A big pass play down the field set up the Leopards in great field position and Standridge finished off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Colt Taylor.

The Panthers came right back and early in the second quarter, Joe Kyle Foster dropped back to pass the threw a bomb down the middle of the field toward Sanders. With a defender in his face Sanders tipped the ball up off his finger tips and into his hands and he out ran the defender for a 62-yard touchdown.

Lindsay would block a punt late in the half inside the Panther 15 that would set up a Standridge to Aaron Smith 12-yard touchdown pass as Lindsay took the lead for good.

Pauls Valley would march back down the field and punch the ball into the end zone from a yard out after three plays from inside the two-yard line. Eyabi would finally get the ball over with no time remaining on the first half clock.

The Panthers would miss the extra point kick on another controversial call as the ball went over the left upright.

The Leopards would score on their first three possessions of the second half.

Standridge would score early in the third on a 2-yard run.

Sanders and Foster would keep the game close as the two hooked up form 60 yards out this time cutting the scored to 22-20.

Taylor would score his second touchdown of the night on a four-yard run.

Dakota Savage would pick off a pass as Pauls Valley was driving on their next possession and return it for a touchdown. But a penalty would negated the touchdown but not the turnover as Lindsay gained possession inside the 20.

Aaron Smith and Standridge would hook up a couple of plays later and Smith would go in from 15 yards out for the touchdown and a 36-20 lead.

Pauls Valley was still in the game after Foster hit Jake Hamilton with a 39-yard touchdown strike. The touchdown came after Sanders had stripped the football and then recovered the fumble just across mid field.

Pauls Valley would have another chance to cut into the lead but couldn’t get the break they need.

Standridge would add a late 11-yard run to seal the victory with the Leopards coming out on top 43-27.

Foster finished with 241 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. Sanders had nearly 200 all-purpose yards on the night.

Both teams will open district play next week. The Panthers will be at home to host the Purcell Dragons while Lindsay is on the road to Hobart to face the Bearcats.