As heavy underdogs, the Panthers came out and punched the Scorpions in the proverbial mouth Friday at Panther Stadium.
Visiting Farmington (N.M.) High School entered the contest 3-0, having outscored its opponents 129-8, and was averaging 43 points a game.
Montezuma-Cortez High School used a gritty defensive effort, led by junior defensive lineman/running back Trenton Gustafson, to stymie the high powered Scorpions rushing attack.
The tough Panther defense kept the game close and FHS led just 7-0 at halftime. In the third quarter, the powerful Farmington offensive line wore down M-CHS in the trenches. FHS senior quarterback Daniel Lacey scored three touchdowns on runs of 74, 10 and 44 yards to break open a close game.
The Panthers eventually fell, 27-6.
They really came out and surprised us with their physical play, said Scorpions coach Gary Bradley. Our boys decided at halftime they needed to play through it and respond. Thats what we did in the second half. It was a hard fought game.
Gustafson got things started by tackling Farmington running back Shawn Gonzalez for an 8-yard loss. Gustafson came back the next play and stuffed Gonzalez at the line of scrimmage. FHS ultimately had to punt.
The Scorpions (4-0, 4A District 1) stinging defense countered holding the Panthers (1-3, 2A Mountain League) to minus 1-yard the first three plays before Gonzalez picked off M-CHS quarterback Tallon Ralstin.
Gustafson and the Panthers defense went back to work, forcing a four-and out with Farmington in the red zone.
On the ensuing Scorpions drive, Gustafson wreaked havoc on Lacey, sacking him twice for losses of 2 yards and 12 yards, while forcing a fumble.
The first quarter ended scoreless.
M-CHS began the second with prime field position at its own 48. But the offense moved a stagnant 5 yards.
The Scorpions tried to get their run game going after Gonzalez broke back-to-back big runs. But he had help. FHS was flagged each time for holding and a personal foul, which negated both plays. The Scorpions found themselves in a first-and 36 situation, and later punted.
Now, it was the Panthers turn to shoot themselves in the foot. Ralstin was viciously hit as he threw, and the ball sailed over his intended receiver into the arms of FHS safety Mike York. He returned the interception to the M-CHS 29 with 5:42 left in the second quarter. On the play, Ralstin suffered a broken collarbone.
With Farmington back in possession, Lacey did the rest. The quarterback carried the ball five time for 29 yards and capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown. Gonzalez hit the point-after-attempt to put the Scorpions up 7-0 with 1:44 left in the half.
Panthers coach Casey Coulter put in freshman Jonathan Walck at quarterback after Ralstins injury.
Walcks first pass was picked off by Kyle Reynolds at the Panthers 42 and was returned to the 37 with just 52 seconds before halftime.
However, the M-CHS defense once again held, and went into the locker room down just seven.
In the third, much like what happened a week prior in Delta, the Panthers run defense finally broke, as Lacey scored three touchdowns on 128 yards rushing in the quarter.
In the final frame, Gustafson kept up his intensity and recovered a muffed punt at the FHS 35-yard line with 4:34 to go. It was the Panthers best field position of the night.
M-CHS earned its third first-down of the game, thanks in part to a Scorpions defensive holding call. The Panthers were setup in the red zone. Two plays later, senior tailback Tam Phan ran it up the middle 13 yards for a touchdown to halt the Scorpions shutout. The 2-point run was no good, so the score stood 27-6.
Panthers junior placekicker Alex Lopez squibbed the kickoff that was muffed by the FHS returner. Walck was Johnny-on-the-spot and recovered the ball at the 11, setting up first-and 10 in the red zone. But the Panthers couldnt score again.
M-CHS coach Casey Coulter praised his staff for the effort his young defense gave.
Hats off to coach (Sam) Perry. That was an amazing scheme on defense, he said. We shut them down. That kept us in the game, until injuries took over.
With Ralstin getting injured, the Panthers were also without the services of senior captain Stephen Candelaria, who was absent on both sides of the line due to a concussion.
Those injuries, we cant allow them. But they happen, Coulter said. I dont even know how many freshmen are starting now both ways. Were going to roll with what we have. Thats all we can do.
M-CHS was led on defense by Gustafson. The junior had 16 tackles, two sacks, five tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble to go with 23 yards rushing.
Weve just been working really hard, Gustafson said. Our freshmen have to step up and try to fill in for our seniors. Weve got to put this behind us and go for league now. We got to put more effort into our games and stop screwing around in practice.
The Panthers begin Mountain League play on Friday at Salida (0-4) at 7 p.m. M-CHS defeated the Spartans 14-3 at home a year ago.
They beat them last year, but that means nothing, Coulter said about the matchup with Salida. This is a totally different ball game now. All I ask, is that we give it everything we have.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
