SPRING GARDEN – Chaz Pope made sure to get Class 2A, No. 4 Spring Garden off to a fast start in its high school football opening round playoff game against visiting Tanner on Friday night.

Pope returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. He also caught a pair of second-quarter touchdown passes of 44 and 60 yards as the Panthers rattled the Rattlers 72-21.

The 72 points scored by Spring Garden (10-1) on Friday night is tied for the second most in school history. The Panthers defeated Coosa Christian 72-42 back on Oct. 24, 2014. The school record for points is 75 in the Panthers’ 75-0 victory at Woodville on Oct. 16, 2009.

Ryley Kirk completed 5-of-7 pass attempts for 168 yards and two scoring connections with Pope. He also had a 33-yard touchdown pass to Weston Kirk and had 34 yards on four carries with three touchdowns on runs of 6, 1 and 18 yards in the first half.

Luke Welsh led the Panther ground attack with 168 yards on just six carries with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns on runs of 75 and 8 yards. He also led the Panther defense with seven tackles.

Weston Kirk also scored on a 9-yard run and a 33-yard pass in the first and third quarter respectively. He also posted five tackles on defense.

Spring Garden led 59-7 at halftime.

Chapel Pope accounted for the Panthers’ final touchdown on a 2-yard run with 2:33 remaining in the game. He also finished with five tackles on defense.

Tanner (6-5) scored its three touchdowns on Michael Guster’s 58-yard touchdown run with 8:29 remaining in the first half, a 3-yard run by Evan Fuqua and a 13-yard reception by Skylar Townsend. Fuqua and Townsend’s touchdowns both came in the fourth quarter.

Cooper Austin and CJ Gowens both had interceptions for the Panthers. Austin also had a fumble recovery. Andrew Bates and Jackson Rogers had a fumble recovery apiece.

Spring Garden advances to next Friday’s second round, where they will host fifth-ranked Red Bay (9-1). Red Bay blanked Winston County 26-0 in other first round playoff action on Friday.