CORTEZ – The Panthers wouldn’t let a league title slip away.
After a season of dominance, the Panthers faced Miller (Durango) for the championship. Much like they had all season, the Panthers found a way, leaning on a stingy defense to stop Durango’s final drive and send M-CMS to a 14–12 victory.
M-CMS head coach Bryce Waggoner guided the Panthers to the finish line. It capped an exciting season and signaled the program’s continued rise. After blitzing past opponents to the tune of an 185–40 scoring margin, M-CMS needed a few more big stops from its defense to seal the unbeaten season.
“Our goal was to play smashmouth football – and our defense is how we pulled it out,” reflected Waggoner, as the Panthers responded to a fourth-quarter turnover by coming up with one more stand with Miller nearing the red zone for the go-ahead score.
Waggoner credited the win to strong effort from the whole team. Braxton Thornbrugh and Zaine Brito scored M-CMS touchdowns, while Parker Spitzer made a key tackle late in the game to prevent a Miller score.
“The dedication these athletes showed toward each other and their coaches was a driving factor in our successful season,” added Waggoner.
M-CMS held on for the win under pressure. Just as encouraging for Waggoner and his staff was the strong support the team received from the community.
“Every single game, whether it was home or away, was packed with support from parents, fans and our high school team,” he lauded. “The culture feels like it’s shifting in a positive direction – the community really stepped it up and backed these athletes’ hard work and passion.”
The B team also enjoyed a strong season, reaching the championship game in its division and finishing as league runner-up.
After months of hard work, M-CMS football became more than a talented squad – they became a unified team.
“We saw a huge shift in togetherness throughout the season,” said Waggoner. “They truly became a championship team.”
