By Jim Thomas

Last year’s Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity football team finished with a 6-4 record. Although this year’s team can’t match that record only because they play nine games instead of 10. However, this year’s team can still finish the season with a winning record if they can win their final three games of the season at Shiprock, N.M., this Friday, Oct. 23; vs. Silver City, N.M., at Springerville, Ariz., on Oct. 30; and at Pagosa Springs Nov. 6. The Panthers, who are now 2-4, are coming off a thrilling 53-46 win Friday night, Oct. 15, at Aztec, N.M.

"We needed to win a football game," MCHS coach Dick Geddes said immediately following the game. "We knew we had a good chance to win if they came to play. Aztec is a well-coached football team and we had to scrap for everything we got out here. They way they came from two touchdowns down, I was very pleased with them."

The game did not get over until 11:15 p.m. because it was the Tigers’ Homecoming (long half-time ceremonies), an Aztec player had to be carried off on stretcher (broken ankle), and all the scoring.

By the time the game was over, the Tigers had rushed for 304 yards and passed for another 202 for 506 yards in total offense. The Panthers did a little better than that by running for 297 and passing for 250 for 547 in total offense. Although the defense on both sides of the field never showed up, it took a defensive effort to stop the Tigers who had the ball at their 37-yard line with four chances to tie the game or even win with a conversion late in the fourth quarter. The Panthers stopped the pass, two of them broken up.

"They showed such heart and played with real character on the field. That after coming off our bad showing at Delta where we made 11 turnovers. I am very proud of our kids. What an exciting football game. We gave everyone their money’s worth tonight," Geddes added.

The Panthers broke a 46-all tie with 2:44 left in the game when Josh Lee scored from 30 yards out on a third-and-four situation. They tied the game with 6:43 showing when Josh Mortensen passed to Jake Collett coming out of the backfield from 13 yards out. Mortensen found Adam Williams alone at the top of the end zone for the conversion which tied the game. Aztec had gone up 46-38 earlier in the quarter (8:46) when Jesse Hankins hit Cody Lee who was all alone down the middle of the field for a 52-yard scoring strike. Shane Royce ran in the conversion.

The game started with both teams trading possessions with neither not moving the ball very much. Cortez got the ball a second time but couldn’t do much. Aztec got another chance with good field position at their own 37. The marched down field quickly four plays, capped off when Royce dived in from 4 yards out with 3:56 showing. The kick was blocked. Aztec led 6-0 when the first quarter ended.

The Panthers scored early in the second. Mortensen passed to Williams who wrestled the ball away from an Aztec safety in the end zone with 10:26 show. Mortensen passed to Adam Herrmann for the conversion and an 8-6 lead. Aztec tied it moments later when Hankins threw to Lee from 33 yards out with 6:51 to go. Aztec led 12-8. Cortez answered right back with a 61-yard Mortensen to Williams combination. Bryce Tanner caught the conversion which put the Panthers up 16-12. Aztec scored again when Hankins sneaked into the end zone with 3:25 to go. The pass failed but Aztec was back on top 18-16. The Tigers went up 24-16 when Hankins passed to Greg Koslan from the 7 with 3 seconds to play.

Cortez took advantage of a fumble at the Aztec 39 at the start of the third quarter. Two plays later Mortensen hit Herrmann running over the middle from 20 yards out. Mortensen passed to Bryan Pyle for the conversion and a 24-all score. Aztec answered right back. Royce set the TD up with a 53-yard run. Royce scored five plays later after he dived in from the 2. The pass failed but Aztec was up 30-24. The Panthers tied the game at 30-all when Williamson caught a 20-yard pass (conversion failed). The Panthers went ahead 38-30 when Josh Lee ran up the side line 36 yards with 2:09 to go. Tanner caught the conversion. With 1:26 to play the Tigers tied the game at 38-all with a 1-yard sneak by Hankins and a conversion run by Royce.