SALIDA – Montezuma-Cortez head coach Tyler Worley and his Panthers knew the pathway back to the top of the IML would be fraught with potential pitfalls.
Back-to-back matchups against winless opposition to begin the Intermountain League posed a risk, but the Panthers weathered a challenge to stay perfect in league play with a 23-13 win over Salida.
M-CHS (4-2, 2-0 2A IML) scored first on a 24-yard run from senior Parker Conrad and never trailed against the Spartans (0-6, 0-2 2A IML), but fought through a four-quarter battle to secure the win.
Tied 7-7 at the break, M-CHS took the lead early in the third quarter after a big kick return set up strong field position, and the Panthers capitalized. M-CHS marched 39 yards, capped by a one-yard run from junior quarterback Cody Case. The visitors then added a 27-yard field goal from senior Isaac Dozal late in the quarter to make it a nine-point advantage at 16-7.
Senior linebacker Wyatt Oliver made life miserable for Salida quarterback Eli Schwarz, sacking the senior three times, and classmate Karston Ozment enjoyed a big night controlling the line of scrimmage to help the Panthers halt multiple deep drives by Salida in the second half.
Conrad's 59-yard scamper midway through the fourth quarter seemingly iced the victory, highlighting the senior's 200-plus rushing yards. However, Salida struck back with a long pass less than a minute later to close within 23-13, but the Panthers stuffed the two-point conversion to keep it a two-possession game, then recovered the onside kick to seal the win.
The Panthers’ defensive line kept Salida behind the chains for much of the game, allowing M-CHS linebackers to fly to the ball and make tackles to prevent the Spartans from producing the upset.
The road success extended M-CHS' winning streak over their Chaffee County league opponents to four straight victories, while keeping the Panthers in the hunt for their third playoff berth in four years. M-CHS entered the weekend ranked No. 19 in the 2A classification.
The Panthers head into next week's battle for first place with Alamosa (4-2, 2-0 2A IML) as two of the league's three remaining 2-0 teams. Kickoff in the San Luis Valley is set for Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.
