Panther football team runs past Green River

Powell’s hard fought 27-10 victory over Green River on Friday came about late in the third and fourth quarters.

“If you look at the stats, that’s when we were really able to have some success running the ball and (take) control of the football game,” said Powell High School head coach Chanler Buck.

After managing just 7 yards rushing on 13 attempts in the first half, the Panthers piled up 154 rushing yards on 26 attempts in the second half.

The playoff win — which avenged a 14-0 loss to the Wolves in the regular season — sends PHS to Friday’s Class 3A title game.

Neither team had a first down in the first quarter.

Halfway through the opening period, Powell botched a fake punt attempt, putting Green River in good field position on the PHS 36-yard line. However, the Panther defense held the Wolves offense to a three-and-out.

Powell fumbled on its next possession, but once again, the Panther defense stifled the Wolves.

After getting the ball back, PHS again turned it over, with James Bunderman of Green River intercepting a pass and returning it to the Powell 14-yard line with 4:14 left in the first; Green River would intercept another pass in the second quarter. The Wolves advanced the ball to the 4, but Powell stopped them on fourth and 1 to take over on downs.

“Three turnovers right out of the gate was very uncharacteristic of us,” said Buck. “But I couldn’t be more proud of the perseverance that the leadership had, and everybody as a whole, the coaching staff, everyone, to be able to get ready, reset and continue to play our game and do well.”

Powell started the second quarter with the ball and put together its first drive, including a 25-yard pass to Zach Easum from Mason Olsen and a 20-yard pass to Paige Gann. However, the drive stalled, and Olsen punted the ball, pinning Green River at its own 7-yard line with 9:42 left in the second.

A holding penalty and a Brooks Asher tackle for loss dropped Green River back to the 1, where it was forced to punt.

Powell took over in great field position, but a Garrett Stutzman field goal attempt from the 20-yard line missed just right. However, on Green River’s next offensive play, T.J. Abraham picked off a pass and ran it in for a 20-yard touchdown.

With 5:16 left in the second, Powell was on the scoreboard, up 7-0 with the extra point.

Candon Croft of Green River picked off a Panther pass a couple minutes later, setting the Wolves up at the Powell 27-yard line. Once again, the Panther defense held Green River, forcing them to kick a field goal for a 7-3 halftime score.

“7-3 at half, that’s pretty much a 0-0 ball game in any club,” said Buck. “So we made our corrections there at halftime. Coaching staff on their end did a good job of scheming.”

Powell and Green River traded three-and-outs to open the third quarter.

On Powell’s second possession of the half, Abraham picked up three first downs in a row, including two 12-yard carries.

Next came a 40-yard pass play from Olsen to Kanyon Gann, who brought the ball down to the 5 yard line.

Abraham moved the ball to the 1-yard line, where — on third and goal — Olsen took it into the end zone for the Panthers’ second touchdown.

The PAT was blocked, leaving the score at the end of the third quarter at 13-3.

With a little less than seven minutes in the game, Abraham gave the Panthers a little breathing room, scoring on a 55-yard pass play on a third and 14.

Green River would put their final points on the board with 3:25 left in the fourth, making it 20-10.

After an unsuccessful onside kick attempt, Powell took over at the 44-yard line. Carson Heinen would score a touchdown on a 31-yard pass play with 2:10 left in the game, putting Powell up 27-10.

Green River drove down to the Panther 2-yard line with 33 seconds remaining, but on fourth and goal, Powell came up with a sack to seal the win.

With 24 seconds left on the clock, Powell took the victory formation on the 13-yard line.

“Collectively we made some big plays here and there to keep us alive,” said Buck. “Outstanding defensive effort and execution. Offense overall was able to make a big play when we had to and put some points up on the board there at the end.”

On defense, Brooks Asher had 29 points with nine assisted tackles, four unassisted tackles, two tackles for a loss and two sacks. Close behind was Abraham with 28 points. Abraham had seven assisted tackles, five unassisted tackles, two tackles for a loss and the one interception.   

Nate MaGill had four assisted tackles, one unassisted tackle and three sacks for 15 defensive points. With 12 points was Eli Briggs. Briggs had seven assisted tackles, one unassisted tackle and one sack.

Paige Gann posted five assisted tackles, one unassisted tackle and one pass break-up for nine points. Easum had three assisted tackles, one tackle for a loss and one pass break-up.

With seven defensive points was Brekyn Herd with one unassisted tackle and three unassisted tackles. Max Gallagher had two assisted and two unassisted tackles plus a pass break-up.

Also scoring defensive points were Kanyon Gann with four, Shattuck Swenson with three, A.J. Lewis with five, Olsen with one and Reese Karst with two.

On the Panther offense, Abraham was the leading rusher with 166 yards. Josh Wolfe had 1 yard rushing and Olsen had 3.

Olsen had 148 yards passing. Kanyon Gann had 40 of those yards receiving, followed by Abraham with 32, Carson Heinen with 31 yards, Easum with 25 yards and Paige Gann 20.

“I can’t say enough about the seniority,” said Buck. “The credit that is due here tonight is the leadership that was on the field and it was exceptional. I haven’t seen that out of a high school club and I’m very proud.”

Seniors on the team include, Paige Gann, Olsen, Herd, Swenson, Abraham, Easum, MaGill, Briggs and Logan Lamb.

On Friday, Powell will face off against Star Valley at 3 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie for the 3A championship.