PHS drops third straight, final home game Friday vs. Worland

A three-quarter dogfight turned into a three-touchdown loss for the Powell Panthers in Afton on Friday.

The No. 1 Star Valley Braves rushed for three scores in the final quarter to double up the Panthers 42-21 and hand them their third consecutive loss after a promising 2-0 start.

“They came out in the second half and just really went back to their power game,” PHS head coach Chanler Buck said. “It was kind of a knock down, physical game until they found one little niche in our defense. It was a very close game.”

Star Valley scored on fourth-quarter runs of 2, 49 and 2 yards as the Braves totaled 397 yards on the ground, including 266 in the second half, to put the Panthers on their heels with just three games left in the season.

The Panthers (2-3 overall, 0-2 in conference) will fight for their playoff lives beginning this week against the visiting Worland Warriors, who edged Cody 10-7 with a game-winning 49-yard field goal with no time left on the clock.

“When it comes down to the postseason this is a must-win, in my opinion,” Buck said.

Powell travels to Jackson (5-0, 2-0) and then Cody (3-2, 0-2) following this week’s game against Worland.

“The way that things are going to boil down here in the next couple weeks … we can very well go 0-3, or we can go 3-0,” Buck said.

The latter scenario would require complete-game performances from the Panthers that went into halftime tied 14-14 with the top-ranked Braves, and not the version that lost its way in the game’s final stages.

“As late as the season is, we’re still in developmental state,” Buck said. “When you’re able to come out and hang with a team like Star Valley and be right there with them … the kids are starting to see what their true potential is.”

The Panthers contained the Braves’ multi-faceted rushing attack for most of the first three quarters, but with the game tied 14-14 at halftime, Star Valley rededicated itself to its ground game and exploited Powell’s defensive mistakes late.

“Our front seven did a great job. When (we) were in the right alignment we were able to shut them down,” Buck said. “I was proud of them in that regard. As soon as we were out of alignment, that’s when they got after us.”

Star Valley averaged 8.1 yards per carry on 49 attempts, 33 of which came in the second half.

“After a while I could see our kids get a little worn down, and some mental fatigue as well,” Buck said.

The Panthers started well when junior quarterback Mason Olsen threw a 20-yard touchdown to senior Carson Asher on Powell’s first pass of the game, but four interceptions — two in each half — set the Panthers’ offense back.

Olsen was sacked once, but Buck said pressure had less to do with the picks than did decision making and game circumstances.

“If we’re trying to get a conversion and he throws it deep and it’s an interception, that’s as good as a punt,” Buck said.

Olsen also ran for a season-high 101 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers attempted to expand their rushing attack.

“He’s starting to figure out that he’s that threat,” Buck said. “The more that we can get him … we got to have multiple threats in the backfield. T.J. (Abraham) is doing an outstanding job, but when they start to swarm T.J., (Mason) knows he has that option.”

Abraham returned to form after being held to 65 yards last week against Green River.

The junior tailback rushed for 130 yards, including a 2-yard score in the second quarter, on 24 carries.

“He’s a heck of a player,” Buck said of Abraham, who also led the Panthers with 10.5 tackles. “I told him after the game, ‘You’re probably a better defensive player. When you go back and watch the film he’s a true leader out there and he’s doing a great job for us.”

Powell’s home finale is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Panther Stadium on Friday.

“This is kind of a funny season where, you look at teams like Powell and Cody sitting 0-2 in conference. But the way things boil down, it’s still pretty much wide open,” Buck said. “You’ve got a couple undefeateds that are still staying strong. If we can get a W here at home against Worland, that can blow things wide open.”

If the Panthers can get back on track, they may earn another shot at one of the conference’s top teams.

“We’re going to be given an opportunity to see a team like that again. We’re still taking a step forward,” Buck said.