Frigid temperatures and a blistering start by the host team had the Powell Panthers on the wrong end of a four touchdown halftime deficit in Buffalo on Friday in the first round of the state playoffs. A second half comeback brought the Panthers within two scores, but the football season came to an end at the hands of the Bison 35-21 on a snowy night.

BUFFALO 35, POWELL 21

A road trip to Buffalo (7-2) brought snow and temperatures below 20 degrees at kickoff for the Panthers (7-3) — with the Bison taking advantage early with big momentum-swinging plays.

The second play from scrimmage was a hook-and-lateral, with a Buffalo receiver lateraling it to the center and making his way 63 yards down the sideline before being taken down at the 3-yard line.

“The trick plays killed us right at the start,” coach Chase Kistler said.

Buffalo punched it in on the next play and took a 7-0 lead just over a minute into the game.

Powell’s first offensive drive stalled out on third down, with the Panthers opting to go for it deep in their own territory on fourth and short.

The Panthers were stopped, and the Bison were in prime position to extend the lead.

Buffalo did just that, scoring on another 3-yard run to make it 14-0 with 6:42 left in the first.

Powell moved the ball a little better on its second drive, but Jhett Schwahn’s first pass of the game was intercepted and the Bison were in prime scoring position once again.

This time the Panther defense stood tall, forcing a field goal attempt.

Wyatt Blackmore broke through and was credited with blocking the low kick, and Powell took over seeking to gain some momentum.

Powell was unable to capitalize and punted to the Bison, with Buffalo continuing to control the time of possession.

The Bison were able to carry a drive into the second quarter, scoring from 5-yards out after a fourth down conversion to make it 21-0.

“Our defense just really struggled to get stops,” Kistler said.

Both teams then exchanged punts, before Powell eventually fumbled inside its own 25-yard line and gave Buffalo a short field.

The Bison capitalized on a fourth touchdown run, scoring from 5-yards out to extend Powell’s misery to 28-0 with 3:30 remaining in the half.

Powell started to put together a drive just before the half, but once again another mistake cost the Panthers a chance at points just before the break.

Schwahn’s second interception of the day gave Buffalo the ball inside its own 5-yard line and Powell did not get another chance heading into the half down 28-0.

“In the first half we weren’t throwing the ball very well,” Kistler said. “I don’t know if it was just a bad pass or a bad read or whatever but all of the passes seemed either low or high and not on time. They were bringing pressure, not a lot, but enough to make us hurry up and throw.”

A small momentum play came at the start of the third quarter, when Zane Graft broke through to block a punt to give Powell the ball in Buffalo territory.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, that drive stalled and was turned over on downs at the Buffalo 24-yard line after another failed fourth down conversion attempt.

Buffalo took advantage of the turnover, and capitalized on a 28-yard quarterback keeper to make it 35-0 with 4:57 left in the third quarter.

Powell woke up on the next drive, scoring on a throw to Keona Wisniewski that went 61 yards to give the Panthers life with 4:38 left.

Schwahn then hit an onside kick that bounced off a Bison defender and was recovered by Wisniewski to give Powell the ball back.

Powell then took a four minute drive down the field, and capitalized on a Schwahn touchdown pass to Caden Nelson from 18-yards out in the back of the end zone to make it 35-14 just before the end of the third quarter.

The Panthers once again had a successful drive early in the fourth quarter, when Nelson again found the end zone, this time from 42 yards, cutting the lead down to two scores with 7:28 left.

“We’ve never just quit,” Kistler said. “We played hard and did what we could to get something positive out of a game like that.”

Powell then forced a fumble on the next possession from the Bison, giving the Panthers hope with 5:55 left in the game.

Unfortunately for Powell, they were unable to find a first down and the Panthers turned it over on downs with 5:14 left in the game.

Buffalo then took control of the game again, converting on a key third down to help run out the clock.

Schwahn finished 19-36 for 257 yards in the contest with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Nelson led Powell with a breakout game in receiving, finishing with eight receptions for 108 yards.

Evan Whitlock led Powell with eight tackles including five solo.

Buffalo finished with 202 yards on the ground and 152 in the air.

STRONG SENIOR CLASS LEAVING

Wrapping up the season, the Panthers will have to replace a number of players on both sides of the ball — including leading receiver Trey Stenerson and Schwahn at quarterback who has led the team for three years.

“They are going to be a tough group to say goodbye to,” Kistler said. “From when they were just sophomores they were all pretty much playing and starting. Some of them I’ve seen in all the kids camps since they were middle schoolers and younger. Like I told them, they had an amazing season and a season to be proud of.”

Despite graduating talent at skill positions, in the secondary and a couple along the line, the Panthers return a strong core of juniors from this years’ team including a majority of the defense alongside the running backs.

“There’s a lot of big shoes that are going to have to be filled going into next season,” Kistler said. “A lot of positives coming back but a lot of positives we have to say goodbye to.”

BUFFALO 35, POWELL 21

Total tackles then solo tackles in ()

Passing — Jhett Schwahn 19-36 257 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions

Rushing — Jhett Schwahn 11-49, Keona Wisniewski 5-20, Trevon Abraham 5-12, Case Bradish 1-2, Cody Seifert 5-0, Trey Stenerson 1 for minus-4

Receiving — Caden Nelson 8-108, 2 touchdowns; Keona Wisniewski 2-66, 1 touchdown; Trey Stenerson 4-44; Evan Whitlock 2-23; Jordan Loera 2-12; Trevon Abraham 1-4

Tackles — Evan Whitlock 8 (5), Jhett Schwahn 7 (5), McKale Foley 6 (4), Keona Wisniewski 6 (3), Seston Shoopman 4 (2), Trevon Abraham 4 (1), Dusty Carter 3 (3), Wyatt Blackmore 3 (3), Case Bradish 2 (1), Trey Stenerson 2 (2), Cody Seifert 2 (1), Doug Bettger 1 (1), Zane Graft 1 (1), Jordan Loera 1 (1)

Tackles for loss — McKale Foley 1, Seston Shoopman 1, Jhett Schwahn 1, Wyatt Blackmore 1

Sacks — Wyatt Blackmore 1

Pass Breakup — Jhett Schwahn 1, Wyatt Blackmore 1

Fumble Recovery — Keona Wisniewski 1, Evan Whitlock 1

Blocked Kicks — Wyatt Blackmore 1, Zane Graft 1