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The McKinleyville Panthers will carry some momentum into the offseason after a 26-12 win at Hoopa on Friday night.

With little more than pride on the line, the Panthers delivered in their season finale, posting their third win of the season after going winless in each of the last two campaigns.

But this was a different McKinleyville team this year and the players continued to show why on Friday with a good performance on defense all night and a big second half from the offense.

Trailing 6-0 at the break, the Panthers scored all four of their touchdowns in the second half to open up a three-score lead, before the the home team added to their tally late in the night.

The Panthers answered the call at halftime after being challenged by their coaches.

“In the first half we struggled. We couldn’t do anything on offense,” McKinleyville head coach Jason Benge said. “But at halftime, our offensive line coach JR (Larkins) made some adjustments, and offensive coach Keoki (Burbank) challenged our offensive line, and the O-line in that second half really took charge.

“It was like day and night from the first half.”

Some strong blocking by the unit gave quarterback Ruger Baxter time to find his receivers and he took full advantage with four TD passes over the final two quarters, including two to fellow senior Jeremiah Smith.

The first TD came on a deep pass to Smith for about 40 yards early in the third quarter.

Later in the quarter, Baxter connected with impressive sophomore Trevor Marsh in the end zone on a 20-yard TD pass, as the Panthers began to take control.

They added to their tally early in the fourth on a 30-yard TD pass to Smith, before James Fike closed out the scoring on a 35-yard TD catch from Baxter.

But all of that might not have mattered had it not been for the Mack defense.

“(Defensive coordinator) Mettah Kuska had our defense dialed in pretty good,” Benge said. “Our defense really kept us in the game in that first half. We didn’t get in a big hole.”

Junior linebacker Cody Hanks helped set the tone for the Panthers defense and made “several huge stops,” according to Benge, while senior Justin Albertson-Spain and junior Braylon Sotelo both continued to play solid, as they have been doing all season long.

Walter Morton added a key interception late in the opening half just as Hoopa was driving, giving his team some momentum heading into the break.

Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for the Warriors most notably the play of senior Daniel Peralta, who scored both of his team’s touchdowns.

Peralta opened the scoring on a TD run in the second quarter after a pitch out from Uriah Cheng.

The second Hoopa TD came on a pass from Carlos Anzora to Peralta late in the game.

Ethan Obie also had a good night running the ball for the home team.

“He tore it up,” Hoopa head coach Curtis Kane said. “:He ran the ball hard.”

The Hoopa head coach also expressed his gratitude for being able to coach his son, Allen Kane, for the past few seasons.

“I’m going to miss coaching my son, but I’m looking forward to my boy’s next chapter,” he said. “Allen has been a staple of Warriors football for the past few years.”

With the win, the Panthers closed out the season 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the Little 4, while Hoopa closed out 2-8 and 1-5.

The McKinleyville JVs also won their game at Hoopa to round out a good night for the program.

Trailing 20-14 in the fourth quarter, the young Panthers scored a TD in the final minute to secure the win, and, according to Benge, the varsity players watched that conclusion and fed off it for their game.

“It was a great way to end the season,” Benge said.

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