CORTEZ – The Panthers faithful couldn’t have asked for a much better opening salvo to the home schedule.
Taking on 2A’s No. 10-ranked Rifle to kick off action at Panther Stadium, a short-handed Montezuma-Cortez High School squad jolted the crowd with an electric first quarter.
The visiting Bears shifted the storyline in the second quarter, however, punching in four touchdowns in a decisive frame of a 47-6 victory over the Panthers.
Junior Panthers junior quarterback Colby McMillian came out firing to begin the contest, connecting on several big strikes in the first quarter to set the Panthers up in Rifle territory. With the momentum, the Panthers drew up a screen play for junior Tay Wheat, and behind a convoy of blockers, Wheat burst into the clear for a 28-yard score midway through the first quarter.
The Panthers defense did their best to continue to contain Rifle dual-threat quarterback Logan Gross through the remainder of the opening quarter, and took a deserved 6-0 lead into the second.
The Bears wouldn’t be held down for much longer, however, as Rifle scored on a 29-yard connection from Gross to junior Isaac Valencia on the first play of the second quarter. From there, a series of quick-strike drives put M-CHS (0-2) into a deeper hole, including Valencia’s second of three touchdowns on the evening shortly before halftime.
By the time the Panthers caught their breath in the locker room, Rifle held a 27-6 advantage against a Panther team depleted by illness that had limited the availability of several Panther starters.
Rifle (1-0) struck for three more touchdowns and a safety in the second half to wrap up the win and dampen the energy of the Panthers home crowd.
M-CHS will look to bounce back next Friday night against Kirtland Central, with the Panthers and Broncos slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff from Panther Stadium.
It’s part of a three-game home stand for M-CHS, and all the action for the M-CHS/KCHS contest can be heard on local radio station 98.7 FM KRTZ and krtzradio.com.
