After a recent coaching change, the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers and new interim head coach Scott Conklin are looking forward to Friday’s home game against Miyamura.
Unfortunately, the Panthers will be without senior Ryan Gurney, who suffered a broken leg in last week’s game at Aspen
“I can’t describe what kind of player Ryan Gurney is,” defensive coordinator Keith Mikhail said on Tuesday. “He was the heart and soul of our football team.”
Stepping into Gurney’s shoes at free safety will be freshman Vinny Conklin. Conklin filled in when Gurney went down at Aspen, calling the defensive plays and making stops.
“He’s a freshman, and he’s by far our smallest guy on the team,” Mikhail said. “But he’s got the biggest heart of anybody out here on the field.”
Conklin and the Panthers’ defense have what Mikhail believes will be, “one of the hardest tests of the year,” in slowing the explosive Miyamura offense.
However, coach Conklin believes the team will be competitive, and with solid production on both sides of the ball, he believes they can win.
“Our defense is going to be tough and stingy, and the offense is going to do their job,” Conklin said Tuesday. “We’re going to control the ball and sustain drives and get some points on the board.”
The Panthers are set to host Miyamura on Friday, September 4 at 7 p.m.