DES MOINES, IOWA -- Quarterback Jadin Daniels threw a touchdown pass and ran for three scores and Ja'Ron Early added a touchdown on the ground as the Ellsworth Panthers opened the 2021 spring season with a 31-14 triumph over the Grand View University Junior varsity.

The 2020 fall season was canceled because of the global pandemic, pushing all the games on the Panthers' now eight-game schedule to this spring.  The contest against the Grand View JV is one of four non-league games the Panthers will play under second-year head coach Mitchell Kleinschrodt.

Daniels, a redshirt freshman, shined in his debut, completing 12-of-21 passes for 138 yards and a TD and rushing for 91 yards on 13 carries, a 7.0 average.  His scoring pass was a 56-yarder to Donmonic Perks.  Perks caught nine passes for 108 yards.  Early piled up 88 yards on the ground on 17 carriers with a long gain of 35 yards.

Both Deablo McGee and Early hauled in a pair of passes from Daniels.

Ellsworth took a 12-7 lead after one quarter of play, went ahead 18-7 at the half, and, then, after a scoreless 3rd period, the Panthers added two more scores in the final quarter.

The ECC defense put together a solid effort with Daveion Crawford and Michael Moore leading the way with seven tackles each.  Jonathan Forson had five stops.  DeAundre Brown had 1.5 of the team's four sacks.  Andrew Behm and Tanner Cromer also had sacks and Davon Sears had three tackles for loss and a forced fumble.  Crawford intercepted a GVU pass.

The Panthers registered 14 first downs and gained 317 yards, averaging an even six yards per rush.  They had only one turnover and just four penalties in the opener.

ECC will stay on the road next weekend when they travel to Arkansas Baptist for a Saturday night contest.