POULSBO — The Poulsbo Junior High Panthers shot themselves in the paw Thursday.

The Panthers, who entered a game against a tough, athletic Fairview team, stayed with the Falcons for many stretches of the game, stalling their drives, rolling out big plays, and gaining yardage.

But the Panthers also committed several turnovers, and the Falcons jumped on the opportunities, racking up enough scores to garner a 24-6 win.

The Falcons remained undefeated (4-0) and the Panthers, eyeing next week’s Friday-night matchup with the Kingston Cavaliers, fell to 3-2.

“We put ourselves in a big hole with two turnovers in the red zone,” head coach Jim Isenhour said. “we can’t do that and get away unscathed.”

While he was unhappy with the turnovers, Isenhour was very pleased with the spirit and drive of the Panthers, who competed from first snap to last.

The Panthers played good defense on the Falcons’ first drive, which ended when defensive lineman Jacob Snell dragged down ball carrier Josh Dow in the backfield.

But the Falcons’ defense equalled the effort, snagging and pulling down Poulsbo quarterback Favian “Bugs” Sabado and causing a fumble.

The Falcons’ Reagan Logova alertly scooped up the ball and sprinted his way into the end zone to give his team a 6-0 lead (the extra point attempt failed).

A few drives later, a Falcons’ kick was fumbled by Poulsbo, and Dow fell on the ball, giving his team a short field. They took advantage, with running back Byron Mosley rolling 13 yards for the score.

The kick failed again but the Falcons’ lead was now 12-0.

Poulsbo sparked to life later in the first half, with Sabado completing a 55-yard pass to receiver Travis Tobin, and, in a later drive, Jeff Camus weaving his way upfield for a 40-yard run.

But another fumble ended the drive, and the Falcons carried the 12-0 lead into halftime.

They struck again early in the third quarter, with quarterback Brian McEuin hitting Travis Moore for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

With the Falcons’ lead at 18-0, the Panthers then pieced together their best drive of the game. Jeff Camus managed a long run; Sabado kept the ball and hustled it 13 yards on the ground; and Camus got the ball again, this time punching it into the end zone from 7 yards out.

But the score was matched by the Falcons, who were unrelenting in the second half. McEuin hit Dow, who sprinted downfield for a 65-yard touchdown pass that gave Fairview an insurmountable lead, 24-6.

While the Panthers managed some fine second-half moments, including a Camus 20-yard run and an AJ Weber tackle on the Byron Mosley while Mosley lurked in the backfield, the Falcons won 24-6.

“In the first half, we made mistakes and they didn’t,” Isenhour said.

But he was pleased with the team’s effort.

“I was pleased by the effort our guys put out,” he said. “Their heads were in the right place.”