CORTEZ – With the local high school football teams enjoying one of the most prosperous runs in recent history, it’s no wonder to see the interest filtering its way down to the youth leagues. After all, it was many of the current Panthers, Bears, Bluejays, and Bulldogs that cut their teeth with the sport at the elementary school level on their way to success at the middle and high school.
The next wave of Four Corners football talent is lacing up their cleats with the fall season in full swing under the guidance of the Cortez Panthers Youth Football program. Divided into four grade-based divisions (Grades 2-3, and 4, 5, 6), the Panthers are testing their skills against the youth programs from across the Four Corners.
Contests began on Aug. 16 and their regular season schedule runs through the beginning of October, with each team playing seven or eight Saturday contests before the postseason starts on Oct. 11 – leading up to each grade’s Super Bowl on Oct. 25.
Under the guidance of coach Rob Overton, the eldest group in the Panthers youth program posted a pair of victories to start the season, defeating Bayfield, 21-0, and Durango, 27-14, to start on the front foot.
“Our players have been working hard in practice, and it's great to see that dedication paying off on the field,” said Overton. “The 6th grade team's strong start is exciting, and we're seeing improvement across all our divisions.”
The rest of the grade levels also opened up their seasons, with the 2nd/3rd grade team falling to Bloomfield, 27-14, while the 4th grade squad dropped action against Bloomfield, 12-6, and Aztec, 20-0. The 5th grade team lost to Durango and Bloomfield by matching 34-0 scorelines.
Action will continue on Saturday, Aug. 30 with all four grades playing home contests, beginning with the fourth grade team taking on Farmington at 9 a.m., followed by the fifth graders meeting up with Montezuma Creek at 11 a.m. The sixth grade team will face Bloomfield at 1 p.m., and the second-third grade team welcomes in Durango at 5 p.m.
The nonprofit program has an online presence at cortezpanthers.com and through social media at @Cortez Panthers Youth Football where fans can find game schedules, as well as volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.
