In Powell’s first meeting with Cody, the Panthers were unable to sustain an offensive rhythm and big plays from the Broncs proved costly. Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal duel between the cross-county foes was no different.

A strong second quarter from Cody paved the way for a 21-0 Broncs win, ending Powell’s season. The Panthers finished the season 7-3 overall.

From the opening series, Powell struggled to find lanes in the run game, due to Cody High School’s stout defensive front. As a result, the Panthers’ offense was more one-dimensional than in past games.

“The inability to run made it hard to set things up,” Powell High School head coach Chase Kistler said. “We were relying on everything to be a pass, so it was tough to be versatile. Their run defense was tremendous and kept us guessing up front.”

PHS posted a season-low 58 rushing yards as a team, averaging 2.5 yards per carry. Toran Graham was the Panthers’ leading rusher with 19 yards.

Most of Powell’s offense came through the air, with Landon Lengfelder completing seven of 22 pass attempts for 108 yards. His longest completion went to Riley Bennett, who gained 53 yards on the reception.

Though Powell didn’t score in the loss, there were a handful of officiating calls that may have prevented Panther touchdowns.

At the end of the first half, Jesse Trotter
appeared to make a one-handed snag at the back of the end zone, but officials ruled it incomplete. And in the second half, Powell had first and goal at the 1-yard line but couldn’t cash in despite appearing to cross the goal line multiple times. 

Even so, Kistler isn’t focusing on these unfortunate breaks.

“It’s a lot of ‘coulda shoulda wouldas,’” Kistler said. “Football is a game of momentum, but it’s hard to dwell on that.”

Other than the second quarter, when CHS scored all 21 of its points, Powell’s defense stood tall. The Panthers’ defensive linemen and linebackers constantly applied heavy pressure, but a few big plays from the Broncs allowed them to find offensive separation.

“Our defense gave a couple of easy ones to them,” Kistler said. “We were out of position and alignment, and they took advantage of it.”

Kistler noted Bennett, Graham, Trotter and Seth Horton as players who stood out in the defeat. “They all played solid games and were trying to make plays and be leaders,” the coach said.

For several of Powell’s top players — such as Lengfelder, Trotter and Horton — the contest marked their last game under the Friday night lights. Though it wasn’t the way the coach hoped they’d depart from the program, Kistler is proud of the group.

“We lost three games this year and both teams we lost to are in the championship,” Kistler said. “There’s a lot of pride to take away from the season, and there were a lot of memories made.”

While every senior on Powell’s roster will be missed down the road, the coach is excited for what lies ahead. Graham, Sheldon Shoopman, Reed Smith and Lane Shramek highlight a strong crop of players who will return next season.

“It’s a huge boost knowing that a lot of returners are coming back,” Kistler said. “We’re kind of reloading and growing.”

At one point, the season looked iffy, due to COVID-19. But the Panthers were able to play a full season and find success while doing so.

Kistler is grateful for everyone who made the season possible, also thanking the parents, Dr. William Jarvis, broadcaster Scott Mangold of KPOW and the Tribune.

“It was a hard season with COVID, and I want to say a big thanks to everyone,” he said.