Wrapping up nonconference action the Powell High School football team won its third straight game, defeating Buffalo on the road in a weather-delayed contest 14-6 on Friday.

POWELL 14, BUFFALO 6

Continuing with a second straight road game the Panthers (3-1) made the trip to take on the Bison (0-3).

A fast-moving storm delayed the start of the contest, as kickoff didn’t start until after 7 p.m., over an hour after the scheduled kickoff. 

“It didn’t feel like a full rain delay, but once we got out we literally had 30 minutes to warm up and then kick off. Part of me was like, it was kind of nice. Less time to think about things, just get warmed up and let’s go play,” coach Chase Kistler said.

Early miscues slowed down the Panthers, including a snap over the quarterback’s head as well as an interception to end the drive.

“Our first series was rough, but I don’t think it was because of the rain delay and all of that. I think it was just our anxiousness,” Kistler said. “We had a rough first series, but defensively we were on point and we capitalized on a couple big plays early in the game.”

The Panther defense stopped the Bison, but a long punt placed the Panthers on the 8-yard line to start their second drive.

Powell punted on its ensuing drive, and Buffalo drove deep into Panther territory.

The Panthers forced a field goal attempt, which went off the left upright and bounced out as it remained scoreless.

On third down of the following drive, quarterback Tanner Seifert launched a ball up the visiting sideline, finding Breckyn Kobbe in stride as he raced 78 yards to the end zone to score and make it 7-0.

Powell didn’t have to wait long to get the ball back, as Gabe McMillin intercepted a pass in Bison territory and set the Panthers up at the 13-yard line.

Five plays later the Panthers found themselves in the end zone, as Karcher Foley took over at quarterback and found paydirt on a sneak from the 1-yard line to make it 14-0 in the first quarter.

Neither team found much offense in the second quarter, as penalties plagued the Panthers progress, but the Bison broke through just before the halftime break.

A big pass play over the top helped get Buffalo inside the 5, before a QB sneak of their own helped the Bison get on the board just 1:31 before the break — the ensuing extra point was blocked by the Panthers to make it 14-6.

In the third the Panthers drove early but missed a field goal of their own, as neither team found a way to score points in the second half.

“We knew teams were going to struggle running against us up the middle,” Kistler said. “We knew that they were going to have to resort to the pass. We’re not giving up big plays over the top, offenses have to kind of nickel and dime us … It was nice to play field position, knowing that our defense is playing steady. We just kind of kept pinning them on our punts and kickoffs and made them have to go the length of the field.”

Braxton Nelson’s interception late in the fourth quarter near midfield sealed the win, as the Panthers won 14-6 to record a third straight win over the 3A East.

“These are definitely games that we looked at like we should win. It was nice getting those wins,” Kistler said. “I like how our guys have battled … They just fight till the end. There hasn’t been any quit in them all four quarters, we’ve had to put guys at multiple levels in different spots and they’ve stepped up and played really well and helped contribute to the team winning.”

Trevin Morton led the Panthers defensively with eight tackles, Foley had two tackles for loss, the Panthers recorded four pass breakups and interceptions in the game.

Weston Hull forced a fumble and Broc Frank recovered.

CONFERENCE OPENER

The Panthers return home this week to start the 3A West gauntlet, starting with four-time defending state champions Star Valley (3-1) at 5 p.m. on Friday.

“They’ve got a great program, good team, long tradition,” Kistler said. “Just watching some of their game films, they’re not invincible. I feel that if we capitalize on a few things that we could be OK. If you would have asked me three weeks ago it would have been like ‘well we’d have to play the perfect game and they’d have to play a really bad game.’ … I don’t want to take anything away from them. They are a great team, but I don’t think they’re untouchable.”

POWELL 14, BUFFALO 6

Total tackles then solo tackles in ()

Passing — Tanner Seifert 1-5, 67 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; Karcher Foley 4-11, 34 yards

Rushing — Karcher Foley 10-63, 1 touchdown; Lincoln Crawford 18-33; Braxton Nelson 3-26; Trevin Morton 1-2; Broc Frank 1-0; Tanner Seifert 2 for negative 17

Receiving — Breckyn Kobbe 1-78, 1 touchdown; Braxton Nelson 2-18; Broc Frank 2-16

Tackling — Trevin Morton 8 (4), Brayden Benander 7 (6), Broc Frank 4 (3), Braxton Nelston 4 (3), Russell Goolsbey 4 (4), Bradlee Lasson 2 (1), David Stearns 2 (2), Gabe McMillin 2 (1), Weston Hull 2 (1), Breckyn Kobbe 1 (1), Jacob Christofalos 1, Connor Farwell 1 (1), James Emmett 1 (1), Pratt Wambeke 1

Tackles for loss — Karcher Foley 2, Braxton Nelson 1, Broc Frank .5, David Stearns .5, Weston Hull .5

Pass breakups — Broc Frank 1, Braxton Nelson 1, Brayden Benander 1, Russell Goolsbey 1, Gabe McMillin 1

Forced fumbles — Weston Hull 1

Fumble recoveries — Broc Frank 1

Interceptions — Broc Frank 1, Braxton Nelson 1, Brayden Benander 1, Gabe McMillin 1

Blocked kicks — Brayden Benander 1