Paschal remains winless in district play after the Pantheres’ comeback attempt came up short against North Crowley on Friday.

Paschal fell behind 24-0 early in the game, but the Panthers cut the lead to 12 points early in the fourth quarter. North Crowley then held on for a 31-12 victory.

Paschal head coach Matt Cook said his team was “resilient.”

The loss dropped Paschal to 2-7 and 0-6 in the district. North Crowley improved to 3-6 and 3-3 in district play.

Late-arriving game officials caused a one-hour delay in getting the game under way at Farrington Field.

North Crowley scored a touchdown on its first drive. Sophomore quarterback Given Tippins-Hill threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Tony Tunstall.

Another touchdown on North Crowley’s next possession gave the North Crowley Panthers a 14-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, North Crowley scored on its third consecutive drive. Senior kicker William Epps kicked an 18-yard field goal.

North Crowley extended its lead on a turnover. Junior defensive back James Battley returned an interception by sophomore quarterback William Floyd 64 yards for a touchdown.

That play was Floyd’s only pass attempt of the game.

Senior wide receiver Ben Noel returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to the North Crowley 20-yard line. Noel then caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Gibson Duwe to make the score 24-6 in favor of North Crowley at halftime.

Duwe completed 19 of 38 passes for 151 yards. Noel had 10 receptions for 112 yards…

Senior wide receiver and team captain Alfredo Retana played for the first time this season. Retana would have been the starting quarterback for Paschal, but he hurt his shoulder in the final scrimmage of the preseason.

Retana intercepted a pass in the third quarter and returned it 67 yards to the North Crowley 28-yard line. Retana then converted a fourth-and-14 play on a 20-yard reverse pass to Noel.

Retana said coming back felt like he was playing for the first time in his life.

Duwe then threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Josh Widger. The 2-point conversion failed, which made the score 24-12 North Crowley late in the third quarter.

On Paschal’s next possession, Duwe threw an interception to junior Shaquille Thomas.

North Crowley then fumbled the ball away at the Paschal 3-yard line on its ensuing possession.

On North Crowley’s next possession, the Panthers put the game out of reach. Senior Dre’lyn Holley scored a touchdown on a 45-yard run to give North Crowley the 31-12 win.

Paschal rushed for negative 34 yards in the game.

“We didn’t block well at all,” Cook said.

Paschal’s season finale will be Thursday at Arlington Lamar.