Blocked FG keeps playoff hopes alive

The losing streak is dead, and the Powell Panthers’ playoff hopes are still very much alive.

T.J. Abraham blocked a potential game-winning field goal in the final seconds of Friday’s 14-12 win over the Worland Warriors to seal the Panthers’ first conference win of the season on Friday.

Powell (3-3 overall, 1-2 in conference) broke its three-game skid in its final home contest and now sits tied with both Green River and Worland for third place in the 3A West.

“We had to have that win to give us a chance,” PHS head coach Chanler Buck said. 

One week after a last-second field goal gave them a 10-7 win over Cody, Warriors kicker Kyle Lamb was in position to deliver the heroics again.

But the approximately 38-yard field goal never got past the line of scrimmage. Abraham rushed from the edge and blocked the kick before it ever had a chance to make or break Powell’s season.

“T.J. is untouched, he just needs to get here in time. He timed it right and we got it,” Buck said.

The coach also credited his interior lineman for drawing Worland’s blockers inside, and leaving Abraham free to sprint to the kicker.

Now the Panthers are in a position to virtually clinch a playoff spot with a win over Jackson this week, though a loss no longer eliminated them from postseason contention.

It took every last second to grind out a win against the Warriors, a team that Buck says is on the rise.

“I’m proud of Worland. That’s a tough town. And you can definitely win there,” Buck said. 

The Panthers took a 14-0 halftime lead with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, and Worland answered with a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters.

PHS junior quarterback Mason Olsen opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Zach Easum. Olsen finished the game 4-for-10 for 34 yards. He also ran for 36 yards on eight carries.

Abraham racked up his fifth 100-yard rushing day with 138 yards on 26 carries. Abraham scored on his longest run of the game, a 23-yard touchdown to close the second quarter.

The Panthers had opportunities to either extend the lead or at least keep Worland off the scoreboard, but the ball literally didn’t bounce Powell’s way.

“We forced three out of the four (Worland) fumbles, we didn’t come up with the ball once,” Buck said. “Had we came up with the ball, it could potentially be a totally different ball game.”

The Warriors then converted in the second half on fourth-and-three from their own 20, and fourth-and-one from their own 35.

Buck said those key plays extended the game and took it down to the wire.

“Other than that, we were able to take care of business on the defensive side of the ball,” Buck said.

Like the Panthers, the Warriors relied heavily on their ground game. They totaled 278 rushing yards while completing just one pass, though it was for 41 yards on fourth-and-one.

A 2-yard run by Mauricio Caballero ended Powell’s shutout bid in the third quarter, but still left Worland down eight.

In a play that foreshadowed the game’s exciting finish, PHS senior Jackson Griffin blocked the extra point.

Worland quarterback Talon Lloyd ran in a 4-yard score late in the fourth, but the Panthers again denied the Warriors a conversion, this time for two points.

“You commend them on their efforts to come back in the second half and to put together what I consider a very big success,” Buck said. “I’m very proud of my boys for accepting that challenge, especially there with the clock ticking away in the fourth quarter.”

No cinch to clinch

A win over the Jackson Broncs would earn Powell its seventh straight playoff appearance. It would also be a major upset over an undefeated team that averages a league-high 39.2 points per game (against Wyoming opponents) and boasts one of the most unstoppable offensive forces in the state.

Jackson running back Theo Dawson averaged 241.6 rushing yards per game and scored 16 touchdowns heading into week six. 

“With Theo Dawson, I would say its comparable to us and T.J. They’re going to give the ball to Theo as much as they can,” Buck said.

Though selling out against the run may not work as well as it did against Jackson in years past.

“They’re a spread offense now, it’s not the power offense we saw the past few years,” Buck said. “They do a pretty good job executing that (spread offense), and that makes them tough.”

Buck said Powell’s defensive front will be challenged against the Broncs, and will have to play consistent, fundamental defense to slow them down.

“You have to rely on kids up front. Our front four has to get the job done,” Buck said. “Then our front seven. You look at a Theo Dawson, that kid weighs 220 pounds … he just wears people out. You’ve just got to continue to play physical, fundamental tackling. You can’t tackle him up high.”

The time of possession has helped the Jackson defense to a league-low 179.4 yards allowed per game (through week five), and the Panther offense will again have its versatility tested.

“That’s kind of our story. We can’t be a one-man show. We need to be able to put the ball in the air and convert other ways,” Buck said.

Kickoff in Jackson Hole is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.