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Sept. 14, 1999 By Jim Thomas There was no doubt the Panthers were going to win the football game. Unfortunately for Montezuma-Cortez High School, it wasn't them on this night. Piedra Vista High School Panthers from Farmington, N.M., showed why they are ranked no. 9 in New Mexico among Class 3A schools. The second-year school defeated Cortez 31-14 before the home crowd Friday night, Sept. 10, at Panther Stadium. "It was a very tough football game," MCHS head coach Dick Geddes said following the game. "Piedra Vista has a very good football team. They went bang, bang, bang and came right at us. I told our kids we have nothing to be ashamed of and I told them we have to come back (this week) and practice all the harder to get ready to play another tough football team (at Delta)." The hometown Panthers, who had defeated Piedra Vista 12-0 a year ago in Farmington, would be in for a catfight this time around. Both teams exchanged possessions in the first quarter. Following Cortez' second possession, a short punt gave Piedra Vista excellent field position at its own 44. Several long pass plays coupled with a long run put PV at the Cortez 7. Brent Peterson ran right up the middle and scored from 7 yards out. Nathan Hamson booted the point after for a 7-0 lead with 4:49 left. But Cortez came right back. Josh Lee took the ball and zigged and zagged through the PV kickoff coverage and then raced untouched for a 97-yard touchdown return. The kick was blocked. The score would stay PV 7, Cortez 6 at the end of the first quarter. But Piedra Vista was on the march. Just seconds into the quarter, Piedra Vista had the ball on the Cortez 4. Then fullback Brett Darnell bulled his way into the end zone with 11:13 on the scoreboard. Hamson booted the PAT for a 14-6 lead. But a critical mistake was made on Cortez' first possession of the second quarter. Outside linebacker Ike Wilson stepped in front of a quick Josh Mortensen pass and raced 23 yards to paydirt with 11:04 showing. Hamson was true on the kick and PV led 21-6. The hometeam was not about to give up, though. With less than five minutes to play in the half, Cortez put together a nice drive starting at the PV 49. A key play in the drive was a nice 8-yard run by Jake Collett on a 3rd-and-long situation. From the PV 14, Mortensen found Adam Williams all alone in the top corner of the end zone with 3:10 to play. The two-point conversion -- a pass from Mortensen to Adam Herrmann -- was good. PV held a 21-14 lead at the half. Following a good run back to the Cortez 43, Piedra Vista was in good field position. And it took advantage of it. PV pounded the ball on the ground right at MCHS. PV nearly fumbled the ball on the C9 but held on. Peterson kicked a 33-yard field with 5:22 showing which put PV up 24-14. Cortez fumbled on its next possession but PV could not do anything with the ball. Cortez, on its final possession of the third quarter, moved the ball well but could not score after being stopped at the PV39 with an interception. PV took advantage of the opportunity and again pounded the ball into the middle of the Cortez line. Play after play, PV moved the ball ahead. Finally, from the C14, Peterson went outside and turned the corner for a 14-yard TD run. The kick was good and PV had a 31-14 lead. Cortez got the ball one more time but could not move it and was forced to give up the ball on downs. PV, in good field position at the C27, elected not to try for another score and dropped to one knee on several plays to run out the clock. "We never gave up during the game. We dominated the second quarter by making some nice runs and passes. I had thought after the way we had played during the second quarter we would go in the third quarter. We didn't though. But I'm certainly not disappointed in our effort because we played hard the whole time." Cortez rushed for only 18 net yards but Mortensen passed for 111. PV rushed for 169 and threw for 93 yards. Piedra Vista also dominated time of possession during the game. The Cortez Panthers, 1-1, play the Panthers again this Friday, Sept. 17. Only this time, they travel to Delta. |
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