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The players may change, but Central's defense doesn't lose its identity.

The Panthers still create turnovers and give up rushing yards more grudgingly than a child gives up a favorite toy.

Central's 'D was missing five starters for Saturday night's District 3 Class AAAA playoff game against Dallastown.

No problem.

The Panthers held the Wildcats to 24 yards on the ground and forced four turnovers, two of which resulted directly in touchdowns.

Central defeated Dallastown, 28-10, for the second time this season to earn a berth in the district quarterfinals. The Panthers (8-3) will play Wilson (10-1) on Friday night at Wilson.

"We had six underclassmen in there, and they played their butts out," Central defensive coordinator Russ Stoner said.

"Our goal is keeping everybody under 100 (rushing) yards, and we told them (the players) at halftime that they (Dallastown) only had 27."

The Wildcats did have 132 passing yards at halftime, but they gained just six yards through the air in the second half.

"We made some adjustments (to the passing game)," Stoner said. "We went with a little bit of man coverage, and we only rushed four instead of five."

Panthers' linebacker Jonah Plymire and lineman Dylan Wanner delivered the defining play of the game early in the fourth quarter with their team clinging to a 14-10 lead.

Plymire shot through a gap on a blitz and sacked the quarterback causing a fumble. Wanner scooped the ball up at the Dallastown's 12-yard line and raced into the end zone.

"I took my opportunity and went through the gap," Plymire said. "I've played two positions this year, defensive end and linebacker, and that's an advantage for me because I know the responsibilities of both.

"Our defense is not a surprise. I believe our defense has been doing well all year."

Kyle Baublitz, a 6-4, 255-senior linebacker, who earned a scholarship to Penn State, is one of the reasons that Central's defense is allowing just 10.7 points a game.

Baublitz said that Plymire's sack and Wanner's touchdown run was "huge."

"That was the one of the big turning points of the game.

Marques Fells, a freshman, delivered Central's other defensive touchdown in the first quarter when he picked off a tipped pass and sprinted 56 yards to the end zone to open the scoring.

Dallastown came back to tie the game by driving 80 yards in 10 plays. The payoff came on a 47-yard pass from Josh Luckenbaugh to Anthony DeFabbio.

Central took the lead for good in the second quarter when Charles Anderson raced 36 yards for a TD.

The Panthers' final touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a picture-perfect 45-yard pass from Brandon Baker to Justin Burke. Baker laid the ball out, and Burke showed his speed and hands by making the catch in stride along the right sideline.

"That (play) might be one of the best you'll ever see," Central coach Brad Livingston said.

"The pass was right on the money, and the wide receiver hustled like crazy."

The veteran coach called the victory a great team effort.

The kind of performance the Panthers will need to take out Wilson, the defending District 3 champion.

"We saw them, and offensively, they're a smooth football team," Livingston said.

"We're going to go up there and give them a battle."

Anderson rushed for 77 yards for the Panthers. Dallastown's Ryan Behrmann kicked a 25-yard field goal, and Central's Aaron Goodyear was four for four on extra points.

The Wildcats finished the season with a 6-5 record after starting 2-4.