Playoff bound!

Posted 10/27/15

Every playoff scenario was incomplete without a Panther win, and the reenergized Powell squad clinched the fourth and final seed in the Class 3A Western conference Friday night with a 21-9 win over the rival Broncs.

Neither the pressure of the …

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Playoff bound!

Posted

Abraham’s hat trick, defense’s four turnovers clinch fourth seed

When their playoff lives most depended on it, the Powell Panthers delivered their best performance of the season.

Every playoff scenario was incomplete without a Panther win, and the reenergized Powell squad clinched the fourth and final seed in the Class 3A Western conference Friday night with a 21-9 win over the rival Broncs.

Neither the pressure of the win-or-go-home stakes, nor the setting of their arch rival’s home turf got to the Panthers. PHS head coach Chanler Buck said a new commitment to team building during the week leading up to the game gave Powell a loose, positive attitude.

“We did a lot of different stuff throughout the week just to build kids’ confidence and bring a whole other vibe to the team,” Buck said.

Junior T.J. Abraham rushed for three touchdowns and the Panther defense generated four turnovers as Powell (4-4 overall, 2-3 conference) extended the program’s postseason streak to eight years.

The Panthers’ new swagger was noticeable well before the opening kickoff.

“Even pregame, they were comfortable, they were smiling, they were flying around. The confidence in our team … it transferred over to the play,” Buck said. 

The win sends the Panthers to Torrington for a first-round matchup with the East’s No. 1-seeded Traiblazers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday.

Buck said he hopes the regular season’s finale was just the start of something new.

“We can’t be satisfied with what we’ve accomplished,” Buck said. “It was good to see the guys begin to peak.”

Powell’s defense played with a tenacity that kept the Broncs playing catch-up the entire night.

“We were as physical as we’ve been all year,” Buck said.

The Broncs were held to 146 yards rushing — 36.4 yards below their average heading into week 8 — and quarterback Blake Hinze was 5-for-11 for 46 yards.

“We had a lot of good pressure on them from our defensive ends and it just allowed us to make big plays,” Buck said. “I was very impressed with our coverage and our ability to rush the passer.”

Cody’s offense gained 192 yards, but just six first downs as Powell dictated where the game would be played. The Panthers totaled 216 yards and 11 first downs, and converted short fields into points.

“Field position was huge,” Buck said. “They were in the red zone one time and we held them to a field goal.”

The Broncs’ lone touchdown came on Hinze’s 24-yard run in the second quarter. A 25-yard third-quarter field goal pulled Cody to within 14-9, but the Broncs never threatened again.

Powell junior quarterback Mason Olsen was 6-for-11 for 47 yards and helped keep the Panthers turnover-free. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Olsen picked off Hinze while sophomore Josh Wolfe, senior Nic Urbach and junior Zach Easum each recovered a loose Cody fumble.

Abraham opened the scoring with a 48-yard TD run in the first quarter. He added a 16-yard score late in the second quarter to extend Powell’s one-point lead to eight at halftime. A final 1-yard score in the fourth quarter gave Powell a double-digit cushion and iced the game.

The Broncs were held to less than 10 points for the fourth time this season, and the defending champions were eliminated from postseason contention with their fifth straight loss.

Aside from Hinze’s touchdown, Powell prevented the big, game-changing plays.

The Panthers stuffed the Broncs for zero or negative yards on eight plays.

Abraham’s first touchdown gave the Panthers the lead for good, though the Broncs attempted to take an 8-7 lead in the second quarter, but their 2-point try failed.

Five Panther receivers had receptions in the win. Abraham had two for a total of 9 yards. Senior Ezra Andreasen caught a game-long 23-yard catch for Powell’s only passing first down. Senior Carson Asher (6 yards), junior Paige Gann (8) and Kaden Moore (1) also had catches.

Urbach led Powell with eight total tackles (six solo, four assisted) and senior Zach Schuler and Abraham, each had five. Sophomore Brooks Asher had 4.5.

The Panthers avoided all of the many tie-breaker scenarios thanks to their win and Worland’s 45-20 loss at the hands of Green River.

Green River is the West’s 3-seed and will play at Buffalo. No. 2 Star Valley will take on Douglas and the top-seeded Jackson Broncs will host Riverton.

The Panthers will play at the winner of Douglas-Star Valley if they get past the Trailblazers.

Buck said the Panthers will run a standard week of practice and then “enjoy the beautiful ride to Torrington.”

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