Just seconds into their season opener against Riverton, the Panthers set the tone.

After fielding the opening kickoff Friday evening, the Powell High School football team scored in just over a minute of game time. The drive covered 75 yards in five plays, capped off with a Toran Graham rushing touchdown. 

There was no going back.

“I didn’t tell them much in the locker room to get them fired up; I think they were just excited to play football,” head coach Chase Kistler said. “It’s been so long since they last played, and they have the mentality that any game could be their last with the virus. They just came out of the gates ready.”

Powell built on the quick lead and eventually won by a final score of 37-7. Of those 37 points, the Panthers scored 30 in the first half and 21 in the first quarter. 

Just like it has in past seasons, Powell’s quick offense created a tough matchup for the visiting Wolverines.
“I think the up-tempo really worked,” Kistler said. “We’ve used that high-tempo offense, and teams have a hard time adjusting to it, so I was impressed with that.”

The Panthers outgained Riverton 429 to 203 in all-purpose yards, with 303 of Powell’s coming from the rushing attack. 

Junior running back Reed Smith led the squad with 133 rushing yards on 17 carries (for an average 7.8 yards per carry). Graham, also a junior, added 71 yards and two touchdowns to the ground game, while senior Riley Bennett contributed 44 rushing yards and one score.

Behind center, senior quarterback Landon Lengfelder completed five of 11 pass attempts for 126 yards and two passing touchdowns. Both of those TDs went to senior wideout Jesse Trotter, who logged 105 receiving yards on three receptions.

Defensively, the Panthers notched three takeaways and held Riverton to just seven points. Senior linebacker Adrian Geller recorded a team-high 11 tackles — three of which were unassisted — and Bennett returned a fumble for a touchdown. 

“Our defense has always been pretty sturdy,” Kistler said. “We did a good job of finishing tackles, and we never really gave them much room to come back into it.”

Despite the countless positives in the rout, the Panthers’ play deteriorated in the game’s final 24 minutes. Powell reached the end zone just once in the second half and fumbled five times throughout the game, losing possession on four. 

“I think it was just mental fatigue,” Kistler said. “I know they aren’t going to want to hear it, but that’s an area we have to get better at, and that’s what we need to focus on now.”

Powell’s win wasn’t just the first of the 2020 season; it was Kistler’s first as a head coach — an important milestone for the longtime assistant. 

“It’s special,” Kistler said. “It feels good to get this first win, now it’s just time to see where we can go from here and continue to grow.”

With the Zero Week victory, the Panthers will head into next week’s road tilt with Worland undefeated. The 37-7 opener sends the team into its first game away from home with some momentum. 

“It should set us up well,” Kistler said. “We have some things to work on before then, but it was a good showing and is something to build on.”