Three PHS football players to play in Shrine Bowl

Posted 5/27/21

For most of Powell High School’s football seniors, Nov. 11 marked their last time repping black and orange under stadium lights. But three Panthers will have one more chance to wear the Panther …

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Three PHS football players to play in Shrine Bowl

Jesse Trotter snags a 79-yard reception in Powell’s game against Worland on Sept. 4. Trotter was the Panthers’ leading receiver in 2020 and will compete in the 2021 Wyoming Shrine Bowl in June.

Tribune photo by Carson Field

Riley Bennett rushes in Powell’s quarterfinal playoff game against Lander on Oct. 30. Bennett recently signed a letter of intent to play football at Black Hills State.

Tribune photo by Carson Field

Kadden Abraham stiff-arms a Star Valley defender during the 2020 season. Abraham led the Panthers on the ground in 2020, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

Tribune photo by Carson Field

Posted Thursday, May 27, 2021 10:15 am

By Carson Field

For most of Powell High School’s football seniors, Nov. 11 marked their last time repping black and orange under stadium lights. But three Panthers will have one more chance to wear the Panther paw print on their helmets.

PHS graduates Kadden Abraham, Riley Bennett and Jesse Trotter will compete for the North Team in the 48th annual Wyoming Shrine Bowl on June 12 in Casper. The game, which showcases the state’s top talent from every division, will be the first since 2019, as last year’s event was canceled because of COVID-19.

Abraham, Bennett and Trotter were all named to the 3A West All-Conference Team in 2020. All three were valuable contributors to the PHS squad that finished the year 7-3 and made it to the state semifinals.

At running back, Abraham was Powell’s leading rusher with 509 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Against Green River on Oct. 9, he ran for a season-high 209 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery while playing linebacker in that game.

Bennett was one of the Panthers’ most reliable defenders in the secondary, breaking up three passes and posting 21 solo tackles. He was one of six Panthers to record an interception in 2020 and also posted 210 rushing yards, backing up Abraham. Bennett recently signed a letter of intent with Black Hills State University, a Division II program in South Dakota.

Trotter led PHS in receiving, with 282 yards and two touchdown receptions. His longest grab of the season was a 79-yard touchdown catch against Worland on Sept. 4. Trotter, who will also play at BHSU next season, made an impact defensively as well. He logged 12 tackles and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Only two schools — Cody and Thunder Basin — have more players (four) on the North Team roster than Powell. Being well-represented in an elite group across the state is an accomplishment for the three seniors and the PHS football program as a whole.

“It’s a great representation of the program and what we’ve got going,” head coach Chase Kistler said. “It’s a great opportunity for those guys to represent Powell on a bigger stage.”