The Powell Panthers returned down but not out after a 35-13 loss at Jackson on Friday.

Losses by Cody and Worland kept the Panthers in the hunt for the fourth and final playoff spot, but they have to win their final regular season game against Cody to have a shot.

The Panthers control their own destiny — sort of.

A win in Cody (3-4, 0-4 in conference) will guarantee Powell at least qualifies for a potential three-team play-in that would be played next Tuesday, if necessary.

PHS head coach Chanler Buck explained the bevy of playoff tiebreakers, and then expressed his wishes to render them meaningless.

“We gotta take care of business this week,” Buck said. “If we win, we have a good shot at it.”

A Powell win and a Worland (2-5, 1-3) loss against visiting Green River would put the Wolves in the third seed and the Panthers in the fourth. The Wolves (3-4, 2-2), who beat Powell by 19 and lost to Star Valley and Jackson by a combined 12 points, should be considered the favorites against the Warriors, who lost 14-12 in Powell on Oct. 9.

Same could have been said for Powell’s week 7 matchup at the No. 2 Broncs, but Jackson’s run game was virtually unstoppable as the Broncs remained undefeated.

Senior Theo Dawson ran for 206 yards and two touchdowns as the Broncs took immediate control of the game on their way to a 28-0 halftime lead.

“He’s got great explosion. He’s a big kid. You can’t come through and just lay your body into him,” Buck said. “I don’t know how many solo tackles we had all night. It had to be at least two guys to get him down.”

Dawson, who gained 147 yards and scored both of his touchdowns in the first half, wore down Powell’s defense as the game went on.

“When you play 15 or 16 kids and you rely on them on both sides of the ball, they get fatigued,” Buck said. “We got worn down in a couple different situations where they kept giving the ball to Dawson.”

Powell was beaten at its own game as standout tailback T.J. Abraham was held to a season-low 39 yards on 21 carries, though he did score on a 3-yard run in the third quarter.

“They have great defensive speed,” Buck said of the Broncs. “Our offense gives our running backs a couple different options to set their lanes up … they had great angles and played hard. To be honest with you, I don’t think we’ve seen a well-rounded defense that fast yet.”

Junior running back Josh Wolfe led the Panthers with 56 yards on six carries, including a 6-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Buck said Powell’s inability to make Jackson fear the pass led to a long day for the Panthers’ ball carriers.

“When we run a spread offense and teams are still putting seven, eight guys in the box … that’s an issue,” Buck said.

Junior quarterback Mason Olsen was 6-for-16 for 28 yards and two interceptions, and no completed passes went for more than nine yards.

The Panthers knew they would have to throw more than usual to stick with the high-scoring Broncs.

“We threw the ball as much if not more than we ran the ball during practice last week,” Buck said. “Against a big physical team like Jackson, we knew we’d have to put the ball in the air.”

Jackson was content to keep it at ground level.

Dawson and junior tailback Tanner Quick traded first-half scores. Quick opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown on his first carry of the game. Dawson followed with a 2-yard score to put Jackson up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Quick found the end zone from 25 yards out and Dawson scored on a 35-yard run.

Powell didn’t have an answer for Jackson’s rushing onslaught, but held firm against the Broncs’ spread offense passing attack.

“We did our best to slow down the air raid,” Buck said.

Jackson junior quarterback Elrich Elzemeyer was just 2-for-9 for 58 yards, but did connect on a 40-yard score for Jackson’s only points of the second half.

“I thought we did a great job in our pass defense with the exception of maybe two plays,” Buck said.

PHS senior Carson Asher came up with an interception and Zach Easum and Zach Schuler each had a fumble recovery.

“We’ve made some personnel changes and that’s created some speed in our secondary. We talk about competition and winning that one-on-one battle every time,” Buck said. “Carson Asher had that pick, and we created some turnovers at the goal line. So I was pleased with that.”

More than a rivalry game

Something is always on the line when Powell and Cody square off on the gridiron.

Adding a playoff berth into the mix only ups the ante.

“I like going to Cody,” Buck said. “The whole rivalry, with what’s at stake I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Ultimately, only one team will end Friday night on a high note.

The Panthers are trying to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2009, and Cody is trying to avoid a winless conference record.

The Broncs have lost four straight and scored just 27 points in those losses.

But Buck isn’t taking Cody lightly.

“What I’ve seen on film, Cody is very well coached. You still got to play good, even defense, because they’ll throw a wrinkle in there,” he said.

Injuries have set Cody’s offense back this season, and Powell’s defense could find the upper hand.

“We’re playing good football up front,” Buck said.” Our kids are playing hard and they’re playing physical up front. I tell my kids the first thing I’m going to critique from you is your effort.”

Effort shouldn’t be an issue during the final game of the season, potentially the last for Powell’s seniors.

“I don’t know that we got a senior that’s physically 100 percent (but) they’re playing hard, they’re playing tough,” Buck said. “They’re good leaders. They’re doing the right things on the weekends away from football, and they’re going to end this thing on the right note (regardless of the game’s outcome).”