Following a pair of one-point losses to start the season, Holton took advantage of four Royal Valley redzone turnovers in the first half and pulled away from a 14-8 halftime advantage to score every time they had the football in the second half and defeat the Panthers 32-14. It was the 29th straight win against Royal Valley and the confidence Holton needed going into district play next week. 

Holton's first drive of the game covered 83 yards on 16 plays and was capped by a four-yard TD run from Kyler Jackson to make it 7-0 after Royal Valley fumbled in the redzone. The Panthers drove and fumbled again, but this time Holton would give it right back on their only turnover of the night. The Pantherscouldn’t capitalize starting from the Holton 32 and fumbled on a fourth down and seven play, but then RV forced a quick three-and-out.  The Panthers scoring drive was a seven play 52 yard possession with fullback Manny Oliveira running for a 29 yard TD on a third and nine snap and the two-point-conversion run by Griffin Cumpton gave Royal Valley an 8-7 lead halfway through the second period. 

Holton would answer with a nine play 58-yard drive scoring on a Bodie Dillon 16 yard run with 2:42 left until halftime. Still, the Panthers drove the length of the field only to throw an interception in the endzone on a ball picked off by Korban Wilson. Leading 14-8, Holton's second play of the second half showcased senior QB Bodie Dillon running free for a 64-yard touchdown followed by Kyler Jackson's conversion to make it 22-8. The Panthers marched 11 plays and almost 60 yards but would turn the ball over on downs at the Holton 15. That's when Holton put the game away and converted a pair of long third downs before settling for a 26-yard field goal by Wilson to make it 25-8.  Both teams scored one touchdown in the fourth frame as Wilson took an option pitch 16 yards for a TD to put Holton ahead 32-8 and the Panthers got a second rushing score by Oliviera from three yards out for the final margin.  

Korban Wilson was the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha Player of the game with a touchdown, field goal, pair of PAT's including one from 30 yards out, an interception on defense and several tackles.  Bodie Dillon finished with over 100 yards rushing to led the Cats who ran for nearly 300 yards and scored on every possession in the second half and five of their seven drives during the game. Holton (2-1) will host Perry Lecompton (1-2) in their homecoming game and district opening next week. 

Royal Valley is now 2-1 and has a big district opener at Sabetha next week. Jaxson Stevens registered his third straight 100+ rushing game with just over 150 yards and the Panthers completed 3 of 7 passes for almost 40 yards. They will look at this game as missed opportunties with four redzone turnovers in the first half and another empty drive in the redzone in the third quarter. They also had a six penalties, but four of them of the 15-yard variety that helped aid Holton drives.