PHOTOS BY JAMES TYLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
YARDS AFTER CATCH (August 21, 2026) … Delta’s Vincent Martinez fends off an Ayersville tackler during the Panthers’ 47-0 win to open the season.
RUNAWAY WIN … Gunner Taylor ran for 34 yards on five carries as Delta cruised past Ayersville, 47-0.
Delta 47, Ayersville 0
AYERSVILLE – Leading by just a field goal after the opening quarter, Delta unleashed a potent offensive explosion as the Panthers successfully ushered in the head coaching debut of Mark Nagel with a resounding 47-0 opening-night victory over Ayersville on Friday, Aug. 21.
Following a 30-yard field goal by Wyatt York, the Panthers then opened the floodgates in the second quarter.
Marcus Nagel scored on a six-yard run to begin the second quarter. Emric Friess followed with an interception return for a score and returned a 59-yard punt for his second touchdown of the night.
Vincent Martinez hauled in a 32-yard scoring pass from Friess as Delta led 31-0 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Nagel brothers crossed the end zone with Marcus Nagel scoring his second touchdown of the game on a 34-yard run while his younger brother, freshman Mason Nagel, scored on an eight-yard run.
York then added his second field goal of the night from 24 yards out to round out the Delta scoring. He was also 4 of 5 on extra-point kicks.
Delta dominated the offensive statistics by a decisive 372-54 margin. The Panthers’ defense held Ayersville to minus-four yards rushing in the game.
Marcus Nagel led the Panthers’ ground attack with 117 yards on 11 carries and two scores. Jaedyn Gillen added 45 yards on three carries. Delta amassed 307 yards rushing.
Friess was 4 of 8 passing for 65 yards with all four of his completions going to Martinez.
Delta hosts Fairview in its home opener on Friday, Aug. 28.
DHS 3 28 13 3 – 47
AHS 0 0 0 0 – 0
D – York 30-yd field goal
D – Marcus Nagel 6-yd run (York kick)
D – Friess interception return (York kick)
D – Friess 59-yd punt return (York kick)
D – Martinez 32-yd pass from Friess (York kick)
D – Marcus Nagel 34-yd run (kick failed)
D – Mason Nagel 8-yd run (Murillo-Montalvan kick)
D – York 24-yd field goal