Centralia had plenty of motivation Friday.

The Panthers were not just hosting a district opponent in Hallsville but facing the team that eliminated them in the district semifinals a year ago. They earned their revenge in a 26-20 victory that was powered by 270 yards and two touchdowns from Kyden Wilkerson and four turnovers by the defense.

Centralia lost last year’s district matchup 38-36 and gave up a game-tying score with just less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter as Hallsville’s Gauge Harbison ran it in from nine yards to knot it at 20.

“Our kids were focused,” head coach Tyler Forsee said. “You don’t have to motivate them to try to beat Hallsville. “With a minute to go, everybody had written us off. We’re not trying to keep it close, we’re trying to win. We were literally one minute away from doing that last year, and they made plays.”

For much of the game, the Panthers struggled to contain quarterback Colton Nichols, who ran for 216 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, but the same could be said about the Hallsville defense against Wilkerson. At about every snap during Centralia’s game-winning drive, Wilkerson punched the ball up the middle until a two-yard score with one minute left in the game.

“He’s a wrestler,” Forsee said. “He’s state champ. Those guys find a way to overcome a little bit of adversity like cramps and all that stuff. He had a lot of holes to run through, and that offensive line did a lot of slugging tonight. We can’t forget about those five up front that set the tone, and honestly, controlled the game to an extent.”

Centralia trailed one minute into the game after Nichols scored from 72 yards. After losing two fumbles, Nichols hit Isaac Stinson on a 44-yard pass before taking it in himself to cap a 7-play 61-yard drive.

The Panthers had something going heading into the second quarter, though, as Wilkerson broke free for a 38-yard run that set up Cullen Bennett tossing a six-yard touchdown to Jack Romine to make it 12-6.

Later in the second quarter, Wilkerson gave Centralia an explosive first play of a drive by taking it 75 yards to tie the game at 12 with about three minutes left until halftime.

Much of the focus in the Panther’s preparation was on Nichols, who proved to be a running threat but had difficulty in the flats or when he rolled out to pass. Centralia forced all four of its turnovers in the first half as Jesse Shannon and Ethan Adams each had interceptions, and Adams and Seth Hasekamp recovered fumbles.

Adams’ recovery, after the ball was ripped from Harbison when he took a pitch in the flat from Nichols, gave Centralia a short field that preceded Beau Hatton catching a 25-yard pass and Breylen Whisler running it in from two yards for the touchdown to make it 20-12 at halftime.

Hatton also made a key grab on the game-winning drive at Hallsville’s 13-yard line. Bennett found him wide open but was just slightly off-target, so Hatton tipped the ball up in the air before coming down with it.

“He’s pretty good,” Forsee said. “He’s caught thousands of passes since last season ended so it doesn’t surprise me one bit.”

The Indians didn’t make any progress in the third quarter. In fact, it seemed like they were going backwards as, following two penalties, Hasekamp and Alex Newbrough combined on a sack that ended the drive with about five minutes left in the quarter.

“We’re very tenacious on defense,” Forsee said. “With the kids we have playing, we’re going to win a lot games if they keep flying around like that.”

Hallsville was in the position it was a year ago in districts but couldn’t make the plays this time around as Nichols’ throws down field were too strong, including the one near the sideline that turned the Indians over on downs.

“They’re a good team, they’re well-coached and they bring a lot of hype and a lot of energy,” Forsee said. “It’s tough to match that four quarters, but we were able to do that tonight and I’m proud of our kids for it.”

Centralia (2-0) hosts its Clarence Cannon Conference opener Friday against Palmyra (0-2), who lost 71-12 to Bowling Green in Week 2.