TURBOTVILLE – With both Warrior Run and North Penn Mansfield sporting 4-1 records at the halfway point of the regular season, both entered the second half of the regular season looking like they are very much in the mix in what is looking like a wide open District 4 Class 2A.

It didn’t take Warrior Run long to show that it should be ahead of North Penn Mansfield in those rankings.

The Defenders scored touchdowns on their first two snaps of the game, and didn’t stop there. They led 28-0 after only nine offensive plays and 35-0 after the first quarter, en route to a 55-6 win over the Panthers.

Leading the way in Warrior Run’s assault on the scoreboard was Cohen Zechman, who scored four of those five first quarter touchdowns on just eight total touches while racking up 331 all-purpose yards – all in the first half.

“We got out of the gates quickly and the kids played great – front line, blocking, connecting on big plays right out of the gate,” said Warrior Run coach Derrick Zechman. “James hit on the spot right away, so we had the momentum and we kept it.

Zechman scored two touchdowns on Warrior Run’s first two offensive plays of the game. James Keifer hit him wide open on a seam route on the Defenders’ first play from scrimmage, and what appeared to be a blown coverage by the Panthers resulted in an 80-yard touchdown reception.

“We got a matchup there, a real good matchup when there isn’t anyone covering, so we took advantage of it,” said Zechman. “Cohen sure had a game, a lot of damage in the first quarter, just unbelievable.”

After the Panthers punted, Zechman returned the punt 51 yards to the North Penn 20, then made a diving catch in the back of the end zone for a 20-yard reception to put Warrior Run up 14-0 less than three minutes into the game.

Warrior Run took over near midfield after a three-and-out by North Penn, and this time took four plays to reach the end zone, capped by a 26-yard touchdown run by Denyn Beachel, who finished with 108 rushing yards on just nine carries.

On Warrior Run’s next drive, Keifer hit Zechman in traffic, and Zechman then sped out of it for a 53-yard touchdown reception, making it 28-0 with still 2:25 to play in the first quarter.

Zechman then found the end zone for the fourth time in the quarter when he returned a punt 55 yards with :19 left in the quarter to make it 35-0.

The Defenders added two more scores in the second quarter to make it 49-0 at halftime, getting a 15-yard touchdown run by Max well Fogelman, and later a 27-yard touchdown run by Beachel, the latter of which was set up by a 39-yard punt return by Zechman.

For as easy as the Defenders found the yards and getting to the end zone in the first half, North Penn found it nearly impossible, as the Panthers managed just 78 yards in the first half.

“I think we’re capable of good things, but we didn’t really show up ready to play and didn’t put ourselves in a spot to show those good things that I think we can do,” said North Penn Mansfield coach Jed Wright. “Credit to Warrior Run. They were well prepared and didn’t waste any time coming after us and we made some mental mistakes and they kept on bringing it. We need to learn to respond a little better after those things.”

With the running clock in the second half, the Panthers put together their only scoring drive of the night on their first possession of the third quarter, going 12 plays for 57 yards that took over half the quarter. It was capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Bentley Chilson.

Warrior Run added one more touchdown in the second half as Channing Jordan capped a seven-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run.