DEARBORN, Mo. — North Platte quarterback Evan Hill carried the Panthers past Rock Port in Wednesday’s Class 1 regional matchup in Dearborn.

Hill found the end zone four times, including twice in the Panthers’ first seven plays. He scored on runs of 53, 10, 9 and 44 yards.

And Hill proved to be the only offense the Panthers needed as they beat the Blue Jays for the second time this year, this time a 28-7 win.

“I just have to give it up to the line,” Hill said. “They block the best; that’s how I make plays; the line does it all.

“Eh, it’s OK,” Hill said of his big night. “I really don’t care about stats. Individual stuff is fine, but I don’t really care. I’m just glad we won, happy we get to move on.”

Despite the win and Hill’s impressive stat line of 194 yards on 24 carries, North Platte (7-4) never sustained its drives during the game. Each touchdown either came on a play of 40 or more yards or a drive that featured a play of 40 or more. The first short touchdown run was set up by a 41-yard pass to Trent Arnold. The second short run followed a penalty that nullified a touchdown on an 80-yard punt return by Michael Hyatt — but even with the penalty, the return still netted the Panthers 58 yards.

“A couple of their kids in there are pretty big,” North Platte coach Jim Brockhoff said. “They’re big kids, big physical kids. I think they had a lot to do with (the offense’s struggles). But I didn’t think our offensive line played as well tonight as we have been, so hopefully we can get back on track.”

The Panthers were also plagued by penalties while committing eight for 90 yards.

Rock Port (6-4), which lost to North Platte 34-7 earlier this season, was able to come back and keep the game closer this time before eventually being outgunned once again.

“Obviously, it didn’t go like we wanted,” coach Del Stoltenberg said. “But they’re a good team, and they had us outmanned when you get right down to it. Our seniors played well, but we just didn’t have enough of them.”

The Blue Jays went into halftime trailing only 21-7 after quarterback Damond Wennihan scored on a 5-yard draw play with 47 seconds left. Wennihan ended with 59 yards on 14 carries and 74 yards on 6-for-23 passing.

Rock Port also got steady offense from running back Treyton Lewis, who ran seven times for 29 yards and caught three passes for 23 yards.

North Platte hosts Mid-Buchanan in a Class 1 sectional game on Monday.