The Panthers long football season continued last Friday at Panther Stadium against second-ranked (2A) Bayfield.
All the youth and inexperience, and the injuries have taken its toll on the Montezuma-Cortez High School football team this season.
Local football fans filled up Panther Stadium to cheer on their hometown kids for only a couple more times this season.
I appreciate our fans coming out. That mean a lot to us, Panthers defensive coordinator Sam Perry said. Our community getting behind our kids is encouraging.
Senior Tam Phan gave the people something to cheer about in the first quarter. He returned a kickoff 84 yards for a score to get M-CHS to within 13-6.
However, the visiting Wolverines displayed their state ranking well and scored five more touchdowns in the first half to lead 49-6 at the break.
M-CHS didnt reach the end zone again on the way to a crushing 63-6 defeat.
They have to be the best team weve played, Phan said about the fast and physical Wolverines.
Bayfield (7-0, 4-0 2A Mountain League) received the ball first, but didnt go anywhere. Each offense punted on its first possession, but the Wolverines made it count on their next drive.
Working with a short, 30-yard field, Bayfield went the distance in three running plays. The drive was capped by quarterback Colt Walkers 2-yard touchdown run. T.J. Pazell hit the point after attempt to make it 7-0.
After another Panthers three-and out, the Wolverines would get another short field and touchdown drive.
With Bayfield at its own 49, speedy tailback Allec Rodriguez to a right sweep 50 yards to the M-CHS 1. On the ensuing play, Aaron Velasquez ran it in from a yard. The PAT missed and the visitors had a quick 13-0 lead at the 3:52 mark of the first quarter.
The Wolverines kickoff sailed out of bounds, but for the second time, Panthers coach Casey Coulter declined to have the ball at the 40-yard line, and made Bayfield kick from 10 yards back at its own 30. Coulter made this decision earlier, resulting in an 11 yard differential with Phan being tackled at his own 29. This time, Phan caught the ball at his 16, ran to his right, got some blocks and was gone. It was the running backs third kick return for a score of the year.
The Panthers (1-8, 0-5 2A ML) were on the board and back in the game at the 3:40 mark. Alex Lopez missed the extra point and Bayfields lead was just 13-6.
However, the No. 2-ranked Wolverines answered with a 61-yard drive. Walker scored his second touchdown from 1-yard out. The PAT went through to make it 20-6.
On the Bayfield kickoff, the Wolverines stopped Phan at the 30. No Phan return equaled no offense for the Panthers, as they again went three-and out and punted.
Bayfield continued to use its superior speed on the ground, and the Panthers continued to be left in the dust. The Wolverines capped another short drive with Walker getting his third scored on an 11-yard run. Seth Posey ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 28-6.
M-CHS had to go to the air to try and score, but Walcks pass was picked off by Sonny Salazar at the Bayfield 46.
Two plays later, Walker threw a 47-yard scoring strike to Velasquez. Pazells PAT split the uprights, and it was 35-6 Bayfield with 9:51 left in the half.
The Wolverines put two more TDs on the board for a 43-point lead.
M-CHS had one more drive in the second quarter with 90 seconds to go. On second-and long, Phan caught a pitch and mimicked Marcus Allens famous Super Bowl XVIII touchdown run. Phan ran right, reversed field and had blockers, and was off to the races on the left side before he was brought down at the Bayfield 20 after a 46-yard gain. The Panthers had a minute to get to the end zone. Unfortunately, the Wolverines defense held.
To open the third quarter, Walck threw his third interception, and it was returned 29 yards for a touchdown by Cameron Shablo. The PAT gave Bayfield a 56-6 lead.
Wolverines running back Robert Westbrook scored from 16 yards out at the 4:10 mark of the fourth quarter for the final margin.
We knew we had our hands full defensively. I feel we had a good plan. However, we just simply got pushed around, Perry said. Were pretty young. Its going to take some time for our boys to develop physically and mentally to compete in those types of games. As beat up and as young as we are right now, we can only improve from here.
The Panthers will conclude their season at home Friday against Buena Vista (5-3, 2-2 2A ML) at 7 p.m.
We just got to play physical, work as a team; everyone has to run to the ball. We just got to work harder in practice, Phan said about preparing for his last game. We just got to finish strong. We have a lot of freshmen. Theyll be good for the next four years.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.