Don't look now but Paradise Honors isn't the same football team it was at the start of the season.

The Panthers (2-2) went into the locker room with a 14-point first half lead a Parker Broncs (2-2) Thursday night, blanking the normally potent offense through 24 minutes of football.

But the Broncs came out and stole the show, playing strong third-quarter football by scoring 16 unanswered points on three drives that featured a blocked field goal and a controversial – but successful – two-point conversion.

Just as quickly as momentum shifted in Parker’s direction, it shifted right back when Paradise Honors coach Duane Brown calmed his team down.

 

“Forget about it,” Brown yelled out to his team. “We need a score!”

 

Paradise Honors stormed back from two points down to score 15 straight points of their own to give the Panthers a 29-16 comeback victory.

 

“It’s great for them to understand that this is the kind of game you can win,” Brown said. “And I do think it sent a statement to our division that we might not be that 0-2 team that got blown out in the first two games.”

 

The Panthers faced early adversity when sophomore running back Nathaniel Smith went down with a leg injury, but senior Donovan Provenzano stepped in and filled the void.

 

“It’s a nice luxury,” Brown said of his team’s depth at running back. “I’d love to have them in together more.”

 

Provenzano’s 8-yard rushing touchdown with just under two minutes to go gave the Panthers the lead, and they never looked back.

 

“Gotta give a shoutout to my offensive line,” Provenzano said. “I’ve got to trust my teammates and know that they’re going to make the block, they’re going to give me the best opportunity, and I’ve just got to run to the best of my ability to make sure I’m not letting my teammates down.”

 

A two-point conversion by senior quarterback Clayton Duzy padded the Paradise Honors lead to six.

 

One play and 17 seconds later, the Panthers quite literally found the ball in their hands again after a game-clinching interception by junior defensive back Liam Cowie.

 

“It felt amazing,” Cowie said. “When I got that pick, I just got this huge adrenaline rush and I knew as soon as I got my hands on that ball and I cradled it, I knew that we were taking this ‘W’ tonight.”

 

With favorable field position, Provenzano punched the ball into the end zone one last time to seal the victory.

 

“It’s nice to have a little bit of security,” the 5-foot-8, 165-pound ball carrier said.

 

Brown said confidence played a major role in his team’s comeback.

 

“They really counted on each other… in the confines of team, that’s really what this is all about.”

 

The Panthers look to extend their two-game win streak next week with a road bout with Camp Verde (1-3.