Cody’s quick start was too much for the Powell High School football team to overcome on Friday, as the Panthers fell to the Cody Broncs on the road 55-10.

CODY 55, POWELL 10

Hoping to stop a three-game losing skid the Panthers (3-5 overall, 0-4 3A West) made the trip to Cody to take on the Broncs (6-1 overall, 3-1 3A West).

Cody struck early and often in the first quarter, as the Broncs took the opening kickoff to the end zone and made it 7-0 just seconds into the game.

Powell was forced into a punt on its first drive, and the Bronc offense quickly added a touchdown run on the next drive to make it 14-0 with 8:58 left in the first quarter.

The Panthers began moving the ball on the next drive with a first down, but a fumble gave the ball back to the Broncs.

A touchdown pass made it 21-0 with 7:54 left in the first, and one more touchdown pass came with 1:16 left in the opening frame.

Cody quickly made it 35-0 early in the second when a punt return took the ball all the way to the 1-yard line, and a touchdown run on the next play gave the Broncs that margin with 11:07 left in the second.

Powell then put together its best drive of the contest, as the Panthers used a strong ground game to march down the field.

That drive was capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run by Lincoln Crawford as the Panthers made it 35-7.

“Even though we took that first gut punch, our guys got after it and got a couple defensive stops and then put together a couple offensive drives,” coach Chase Kistler said. “I was proud of our guys to keep playing and keep fighting and keep getting better. That’s kind of the promise that we made this year is every day we’ve got to find a way to get better and better.”

The Panthers held the Broncs on their next drive, but a muffed punt gave the Broncs the ball back in Panther territory.

Cody’s drive found the hosts inside the 5-yard line, but four straight stops by the Panthers including a pass breakup by Breckyn Kobbe on fourth down stopped the hosts and kept the scoreline at 35-7 going into the half.

Offense slowed down in the second half, until a quick burst by Cody late in the third quarter.

A touchdown pass with 1:19 left in the third was followed by a fumble by the Panthers with 29 seconds left, and a touchdown run on the next play made it 49-7 to end the third quarter.

Powell got more points on the board on a Tom Petermann field goal from 35 yards out, but a big kick return by Cody set up a short touchdown run to make it 55-10 after a blocked extra point by Braxton Nelson.

“They’re a good team. Give them credit, but I was proud of our guys. They fought for all four quarters. I felt like last year when we played them, we gave up really early,” Kistler said.

Karcher Foley led through the air going 7-15 for 43 yards, Crawford went for 78 yards on 21 carries, and Sean Lowe added 36 yards on five carries.

Pratt Wambeke led with 17 receiving yards on one reception, Broc Frank and Russell Goolsbey tied for the team lead with nine tackles each.

Weston Hull and Pratt Wambeke each had a tackle for loss, and Wambeke had a sack.

Brayden Benander had two pass breakups while Nelson had a blocked kick.

“We knew it was going to be really tough. We’re beat up, but we made it through this night without any injuries so that’s a plus,” Kistler said.

HOMECOMING GAME

Heading into the final game of the regular season the Panthers still have a shot to make the postseason, as they host the Evanston Red Devils (5-3 overall, 1-3 3A West) at 6 p.m. on Friday, with the winner likely going to the playoffs.

“We’ve got to win if we want to continue to get any extra playing time in the playoffs,” Kistler said. “They’re very much a mirror image of us … They run similar stuff … Great running back, sophomore quarterback that had to step in midseason because their starter got hurt, and they’re veteran up front on both sides. They’re a mirror image of us, so we want to get rested up, get back to work on Monday.”

If Powell hopes to advance to the playoffs, the Panthers will need to win by eight points over the Red Devils, and have a loss by Green River which plays at Cody on Friday night.

Powell’s win would force a three-way tiebreaker between Green River, Powell and Evanston. The Panthers would need to win by more than seven points due to Green River defeating Powell by six and Evanston defeating Green River by five earlier in the season to win on a points differential tiebreaker between the three teams.

CODY 55, POWELL 10

Total tackles then solo tackles in ()

Passing — Karcher Foley 7-15, 43 yards

Rushing — Lincoln Crawford 21-78, 1 touchdown; Sean Lowe 5-36; Karcher Foley 11-5, Trevin Morton 2-5, Russell Goolsbey 1-4, Braxton Nelson 2-2

Receiving — Pratt Wambeke 1-17, Broc Frank 1-12, Lincoln Crawford 2-6, Braxton Nelson 1-6, Brayden Benander 1-4, Lincoln Crawford 1 for negative 2

Tackles — Broc Frank 9 (4), Russell Goolsbey 9 (3), Braxton Nelson 6 (3), Brayden Benander 4 (3), Breckyn Kobbe 3 (2), Forest Kleinfeldt 3 (1), Weston Hull 3 (1), Pratt Wambeke 3 (1), David Stearns 1, Karcher Foley 1, Gianreye D’Alessandro 1 (1), Bradlee Lasson 1

Tackles for loss — Weston Hull 1, Pratt Wambeke 1

Sacks — Pratt Wambeke 1

Pass breakups — Brayden Benander 2, Breckyn Kobbe 1, Braxton Nelson 1, Russell Goolsbey 1

Blocked kicks — Braxton Nelson 1

3A WEST STANDINGS

Overall record then conference record

1. Star Valley 7-1 overall, 4-0 3A West

2. Cody 6-1 overall, 3-1 3A West

3. Jackson 7-1 overall, 3-1 3A West

4. Evanston 5-3 overall, 1-3 3A West

5. Green River 3-4 overall, 1-3 3A West

6. Powell 3-5 overall, 0-4 3A West