There’s a little extra electricity in Cove this season.

The Leopards football team is loving playing under the new lights after a 52-28 win against Powder Valley Friday.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” senior quarterback Jered Witty said.

“More people get to come out to the game, which is a great thing.

“As a player, it gets you going a little bit more. It’s true football – Friday night lights.”

Witty and company got it going early and often, scoring 30 points in the opening quarter.

“All the credit has to go to the offensive line,” Witty said. “They did a great job opening up holes and giving me time to throw the ball.”

Witty displayed his ability to improvise, scrambling for a 51-yard touchdown on Cove’s first possession of the game.

After a Powder Valley three-and-out, Witty showcased his arm.

The right-hander connected with Jordan Brown on a 30-yard touchdown. The Leopards three-play drive took 27 seconds off the clock.

While the Cove offense blazed up the field, the Badgers had a tougher time finding room to run.

Powder Valley tallied 29 yards of offense in the first half, while Cove amassed 221 yards of offense.

“The defense did a great job all night long,” Leopards head coach Todd Shirley said. “It was a team effort. Everyone was getting to the ball. That’s what it takes to win.”

Witty threw two more touchdown passes in the opening quarter.

Brown reeled in a 44-yard pass, and Scott DelCurto caught a 17-yard touchdown pass.

The Badgers scored all of their 28 points in the second half.

Zach Weems broke off a 47-yard touchdown run.

Cove will travel to Imbler, and Powder Valley will head to Wallowa. Both games are set for 2 p.m. Friday.

Leopards 52, Badgers 28

Powder Valley 0 0 6 22 andndash; 28

Cove 30 14 8 0 andndash; 52

First Quarter

CO andndash; Jered Witty 51 run, (Kegan Gilstrap run)

CO andndash; Jordan Brown 30 pass from Witty (Scott DelCurto run)

CO andndash; Brown 44 pass from Witty, (run fail)

CO andndash; DelCurto 17 pass from Witty (Witty run)

Second Quarter

CO andndash; Crayson McBride 18 run (Witty run)

CO andndash; DelCurto 35 run (Shane Johnson run)

Third Quarter

PV andndash; Jesse Weitz 2 run (run failed)

CO andndash; DelCurto 7 run (Witty run)

Fourth Quarter

PV andndash; Brenton Reed 7 run (run failed)

PV andndash; Colton Eubanks 23 run (Eubanks run)

PV andndash; Zack Weems 47 run (Eubanks run)

Panthers extend winning streak

JOSEPH – The Panthers won the first meeting against Joseph since the state title game in 2008.

The Eagles minus a host of seniors from that team fell to Imbler 66-24 Friday.

Wesley Burgess had the scoring touch. The senior running back had four carries and scored on three of them. He finished the game with 141 yards, including touchdowns of 56-, 54- and 27 yards.

Trevor Lewis led the Eagles the two touchdowns. He scored on a 32-yard run and a 77-yard kickoff return.

Will Garrett finished with 89 yards rushing on 16 carries.

Imbler will host Cove at 2 p.m. Friday. Joseph will host Pine Eagle at 7 p.m. Friday.

Panthers 66, Joseph 24

Imbler 38 16 6 6 andndash; 66

Joseph 0 0 16 8 andndash; 24

First Quarter

IM andndash; Burgess 54 run (Eisiminger run)

IM andndash; Mills 14 run (Eisiminger run)

IM andndash; Burgess 56 run (Eisiminger run)

IM andndash; Phillips 47 pass from Mills (Mills run)

IM andndash; Burgess 27 run (run failed)

Second Quarter

IM andndash; McDaniel 15 pass from Mills (Mills run)

IM andndash; Shaffer 29 pass from Fullerton (Bales run)

Third Quarter

IM andndash; Mesterheide 42 pass from Fullerton (run failed)

JO andndash; Lewis 32 run (Staidle run)

JO andndash; Lewis 77 kickoff return (Staidle run)

Fourth Quarter

IM andndash; Bales 28 run (run failed)

JO andndash; Staidle 16 run (Staidle run)

Individual statistics

RUSHING andndash; Imbler, Burgess 4-141, Mills 6-46, Eisiminger 4-11, Fullerton 5-19, Bales 20-115, Robertson 3-4. Joseph, Lewis 5-34, Staidle 8-18, Garrett 16-89.

PASSING andndash; Imbler, Mills 4-7-0-83, Fullerton 4-5-0-77. Joseph, Staidle 5-18-0-91.

RECEIVING andndash; Imbler, Phillips 3-68, McDaniel 1-15, Mesterheide 3-48, Shaffer 1-29. Joseph, Lewis 1-(minus 3), Garrett 2-33, Baynes 1-12, Warnock 1-49.

Defense carries Cougars past Spartans

HALFWAY – Defense saved the day in Halfway, as Wallowa pulled away from Pine Eagle for a 58-26 win.

The Cougars led 28-26 at the half, and a halftime talk sparked a strong finish.

“It was a little hangover from the week before against Imbler,” Cougars head coach Bill Robb said. “We were waiting to see what Pine Eagle was going to do before we reacted. The team woke up after a heart-to-heart talk.”

Sean Hunt and Tyler Chrisman each tallied six tackles and a sack.

Tyler Harshfield ran for 204 yards on 20 carries with four touchdowns. He completed 14 of his 24 passes and two scores.

Ronald Gladden hauled in six passes for 139 yards with a touchdown.

Wallowa will host Powder Valley Friday at 2 p.m.

Individual statistics

RUSHING andndash; Wallowa, Johnson 3-24, Alvarez 5-27, Green 6-28, Harshfield 20-204.

PASSING andndash; Wallowa, Harshfield 14-24-0-240.

RECEIVING andndash; Wallowa, Johnson 2-29, Gladden 6-139, Alvarez 1-12, Jamerson 5-60.