Panthers drop second straight, head to Star Valley next

Things got off on the wrong foot for the Powell High School football team during a 26-7 Homecoming loss to Green River on Friday.

For the second week in a row the Panthers dug themselves a 20-point halftime deficit, but unlike in week 3’s 29-27 loss at Riverton, they weren’t able to mount a feel-good comeback in their conference opener.

Junior quarterback Mason Olsen scored a late touchdown on a 46-yard keeper, but the Wolves otherwise bottled up the Panthers’ ground game while their own attack fired on all cylinders, especially in the first half.

The Panthers (2-2, 0-1 conference) spotted the Wolves (2-2, 1-0) excellent starting field position to start the game when a failed onside kick attempt was returned inside Green River’s red zone. 

PHS head coach Chanler Buck said the Wolves were a step ahead all night, and took advantage of every Panther mistake.

“We just didn’t have that first step this week,” Buck said. “They had that first step on us almost every time. That’s the determining factor of three different scores.”

Green River senior quarterback Tyler Vendetti threw two first-half touchdown passes and finished the game with 203 yards on 11-for-18 passing. He also ran for 34 yards and a 10-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown.

Powell fortified its defensive approach in the second half, when Vendetti was held to 45 yards on 4-for-10 passing.

“We cleaned up a couple things up in the pass rush in terms of containing the Vendetti kid,” Buck said. “When we can do that, it slows him down and keeps him in the pocket.”

Jackson Griffin and Zach Easum had two sacks a piece, while Eli Briggs and Max Gallagher each had one.

“We just kept it simple and kids woke up and we were able to slow things down there. It wasn’t a major fix. It was just a reality check that we started extremely slow,” Buck said.

Junior running back Drew Wilson added 78 yards and a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter for the Wolves.

The Panthers were shut out through three quarters of play by a Green River team determined to take away the run. The Wolves targeted PHS junior tailback T.J. Abraham, who averaged 137.3 yards per game and 6.14 yards per carry through the first three weeks of the season. He got about half that on Friday.

“That front seven is as good as we’ve seen,” Buck said. “Green River is a good team. They were most definitely keying on No. 34 (Abraham).”

Abraham was held to a season-low 65 yards on 21 attempts (3.1 yards per carry). He made his presence felt on special teams with two blocked point-after tries.

Buck said he was not surprised Abraham garnered so much attention from the Wolves’ defense, and acknowledged the need for a more dynamic offense capable of moving the ball with a variety of players.

Olsen completed 4-of-14 passes for 36 yards and one interception in the loss, but fared well on the ground. Olsen was Powell’s top rusher with 12 carries for 91 yards.

“Mason Olsen is a great athlete,” Buck said. “When his confidence comes, it’s going to allow us to do some things (offensively). We just got to continue to support him.”

Buck said he was excited to see what happens when Powell’s offense gels around the “one-two punch” of Olsen and Abraham.

“When we decide to click as a team, we’re going to be able toss-up on the field with anybody.”

On the road again

Things don’t get any easier in week 5, when the Panthers travel to the No. 2 Star Valley Braves, who remained undefeated with a shut out of the top-ranked Cody Broncs this week.

“You come off a week like this and you look at the next one on the schedule … it’s an incredible challenge,” Buck said. “But the bright side is we step away from this week and there’s no doubt these kids can handle it.”

The Braves are 4-0 and won each game by double-digits. Star Valley’s 13-0 win in Cody on Friday was their smallest margin of victory this season. 

“I was a little bit surprised that Cody wasn’t able to score, but Star Valley is good,” Buck said. “When you watch them on film, they’re as good as we’ve seen. In my opinion the No. 1 team in 3A now that they’ve knocked off (Cody).”

The Panthers have just one home game remaining, Oct. 9 against Worland.