{gallery}08_27_09/football{/gallery}Powell High School's Devin Jordan gets set to go during a practice repetition on Tuesday afternoon. The Panthers, state semifinalists in 2008, will line up this Saturday against the defending Montana Class A champions from Custer County. Kickoff in the game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tribune photo by Randal Horobik Montana state champs first up for Panther griddersOn paper, the credentials are impressive — the 2008 Montana Class A state champions versus a 2008 Wyoming state semifinalist. In reality, neither the Powell Panthers nor the Custer County (Mont.) Cowboys currently resemble the teams that played their way deep into the playoffs nearly a year ago.

And that's just fine by Powell head coach Jim Stringer.

“This is a learning game for us,” said Stringer. “We're going to try a bunch of things in this game to see where we're at and to see what we're capable of. We know Miles City is a well-coached team. I'm excited about it.”

The Cowboys graduated 20 players off the team that defeated Billings Central last November and which never surrendered more than 20 points to any single opponent last season. Despite that stat, Stringer isn't expecting much of a drop off when it comes to Saturday's visitors.

“Looking at the roster, they've got good size for their line. They've always got athletes for their skill positions and they've got a tradition for being a physical team,” said Stringer, who has 15 starting lineup vacancies of his own to fill this season. “They'll come in here and challenge us. They have a tradition of good football up there.”

And, just in case there are any doubts about that claim, it should be noted that the game officially counts toward the Cowboys' season record. The Panthers' record will remain at 0-0 for one more week despite the outcome of Saturday's contest.

“We have the option of playing in a jamboree, playing in an untimed, unofficiated scrimmage, or playing an actual football game this week,” Stringer said. “I'm sure there are plusses and drawbacks to each format, but we elected a number of years ago to play a game.”

And that's exactly how the Panthers' coaching staff is approaching Saturday's contest, which Stringer believes will be the first-ever football meeting between the two programs.

“As far as I'm concerned, it's a game,” said Stringer. “I'm approaching it the same as I will every other contest and the kids better be as well. It's good for us to be challenged early.”

One of the challenges the Panthers face by playing the early game is the need to have more facets of the team prepared to go for Saturday night. Unlike a jamboree format or an unofficial scrimmage, the Panthers' coaching staff has had to spend practicies preparing the team for a wide range of possible scenarios.

“We've got to be ready to go in all three facets of the game —offense, defense and special teams,” notes Stringer.

“We've got to be prepared for anything we encounter.”

On the other hand, having to do so provides Powell the opportunity to attempt more things during the zero-week contest.

“It's a game, but it's a learning game for us,” said Stringer. “We'll try a number of things on offense, we'll look at different defensive packages and blitz schemes to see how we execute them.”

The Panthers will enter the game with a relatively clean bill of health. Stringer reports only minor “dents and dings” through Tuesday night's practice, none of which are expected to require the team to hold a player out of the contest.

“I'm excited about the game,” Stringer said. “It gives us a little more purpose and direction for practice during the week.”

Kickoff in Saturday's contest is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Powell. Preliminary weather forecasts predict a kickoff temperature in the low to mid-70s with a miniscule chance of evening thunderstorms.