CORTEZ – The Montezuma-Cortez High School yearbook, endearingly named the Sleeping Ute, remains as one of the lasting reminders of Panther football’s dominance over the early decades on the Western Slope.
Included in those glory years, back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1939 and 1940, dominance in the post-World War II era against rival Durango, and an impressive span in the San Luis Valley Conference in the 1950s. League titles in 1952 and again in 1957 solidified the Panthers as one of the major gridiron forces in Colorado, regularly topping the likes of Montrose and Farmington.
For decades-long spells afterward, however, the league title well ran dry – until now, as the Panthers knocked off rival Bayfield 43-0 on Friday to win the Intermountain League title.
It was Montezuma-Cortez’s first IML crown since joining the league a decade ago. The Panthers also punched their ticket to the postseason for the second time in the last three years.
The Panthers will find out on Sunday who they’ll face to open the 3A state playoffs.
Senior tailback Tay Wheat helped spark the big night, surpassing 6,000 career yards from scrimmage on a night where he and a dozen of his senior teammates made their final regular season appearance at Panther Stadium.
Classmate Colby McMillian broke the ice in the first quarter, taking a fourth-and-1 run around the right end for a 64-yard sprint and an 8-0 advantage four minutes into the game.
“The play was supposed to go to Tay, but I saw that the hole opened up for me, so I just decided to take it on my own,” McMillian said.
From there, the defense dominated, holding the Wolverines to less than 10 first downs all game while forcing five turnovers.
Wheat enjoyed his moment in the chilly November air, punching home the third of his four touchdowns from six yards out midway through the third quarter. In doing so, he surpassed the 6,000-yard mark for total yards from scrimmage. Wheat finished with 212 yards on the ground while posting a pair of interceptions.
Senior tackle Aden Ray and the Panthers defensive front enjoyed a field day, carving up Bayfield’s offensive line to harass freshman quarterback Harrison Williams.
“This was a great achievement, especially on our Senior Night,” Ray said of the team’s league title. “I’m just so proud of this team.”
Ray, who battled his way back from injury to play a prominent role in the home stretch for the Panthers, reflected on his journey back as part of the linemen who play both directions.
“I’ve tried my hardest to make sure that I’m out here trying my hardest, injury or not, and I’ve just had to push through,” he said.
“We win and lose based on the performances of our front line, and they came to eat tonight. They did what was within themselves – didn’t try to do too much, and they played within their abilities,” said first-year Panthers coach Tyler Worley.
Junior Parker Conrad added a score in the second quarter to help the Panthers build a 22-0 halftime lead.
“I’ve been playing with this group since as long as I can remember, and so to win the league championship means a lot to us,” McMillian said.
