CORTEZ – The sting that lingers after finishing one spot outside of the playoff field last fall is a major signpost for how far the Montezuma-Cortez Panther football program has progressed in recent years.
The message is clear: playoff-caliber football is becoming an expectation at Panther Stadium.
Montezuma-Cortez (4-5 in 2023) narrowly missed out on enjoying the program’s first back-to-back playoff appearances in over two decades, while posting the program’s first consecutive seasons of four-plus wins in the same time span.
Panthers assistant coach Tyler Worley was elevated to head coach entering this season, replacing Ivan Mack. Worley, who played at Durango during his high school days, looks to keep growing a program that – like his alma mater Demons – wants to transform into a perennial power.
“I always knew that at some point, I was wanting to become a head coach, and I had a lot of really good support from the existing coaching staff – so it’s been a really smooth transition,” said Worley, who took on the role after Mack stepped down earlier this summer.
Worley enters the role with plenty of highly-refined talent within the Panthers’ arsenal, highlighted by senior all-state tailback Tay Wheat. Impactful since his first day as a freshman, Wheat is narrowing in on a 4,000-yard rushing career on the heels of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Wheat headlines a deep skill position collection for the Panthers, while classmate Colby McMillian developed into a bona fide dual threat in his first year as starting quarterback. By the end of 2023, the Panthers had transformed into a ground-heavy attack, allowing McMillian to showcase his elusiveness.
Meanwhile, the offensive and defensive lines lost a talented core to graduation, but return a couple of key cogs who will help develop the Panthers in the trenches. Seniors Aden Ray and Braiden Seymour are the two returning starters on the offensive line.
“We’re putting a lot on their shoulders because we know we’ll have a lot of guys who will be having to make the jump from junior varsity and middle school ball to get ready for the varsity level,” said Worley of his senior group, including emerging leader Brady Dale.
Worley, who enters his fourth year as a physical education and health educator at the high school, lauded the players for their work ethic in preparation for the rigorous Intermountain League schedule.
“Having an established relationship with the kids really helped the transition, so they’ll be familiar with some of schemes that we’ll have this year, but we’ll also make some changes as well,” Worley said.
The Panthers begin a season with plenty of other unknowns, facing five unfamiliar opponents. Montezuma-Cortez opens its season a week earlier than most Colorado teams.
The Panthers will open the 2024 season at Gallup on Aug. 23, the first of three New Mexico opponents. Montezuma-Cortez will travel to Crownpoint the following weekend, then play its in home opener Sept. 7 against 1A power Strasburg.
Consecutive bye weeks in mid-September, which is a rare scenario, will precede a home game against Shiprock on Sept. 27. Montezuma-Cortez’s league schedule starts Oct. 4 at Gunnison, which replaced Delta.
The Panthers will host Salida on Homecoming Night Oct. 11 before closing the regular season against Alamosa, Pagosa Springs and Bayfield.
Worley will look to his leaders to keep building on the recent momentum and raise the bar.
“We want this team to have an ‘all-in’ mentality, playing for each other, making their town and their school proud of what they do both on and off the field,” he said.
