Journal Staff Report

PAGOSA SPRINGS -- It saved the best for last. It was perhaps its best game of the season as Montezuma-Cortez High School defeated Pagosa Springs here on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 6, with a 34-19 win. Cortez finished the season with a 4-5 overall record.

"These were two evenly-matched teams which played," MCHS coach Dick Geddes commented. "The kids really played well. Several of the seniors played their best game of the year. I thought both the offense and the defense rose to the occasion. The defense really played well and (defensive coordinator) Bob Archibeque deserves credit."

In all facets of the game, the Panthers played well with the exception of a few mistakes. One mistake very early, though, ended up costing them when a fumble occurred on the opening kickoff. That put the Pirates in excellent field position and they later scored to take a 7-0 lead.

But the Panthers responded quickly and went ahead 8-7 when Bryce Tanner scored on a 17-yard pass from Josh Mortensen which capped an 80-yard drive. Jake Collett leaped into the end zone for the conversion.

Cortez was able to take a 14-7 lead into halftime when just before the half Josh Lee rambled 69 yards to paydirt.

Adam Herrmann’s 1-yard run plunge made the score 20-7. Cortez increased its lead to 26-7 when Herrmann grabbed a 14-yard pass from Mortensen. Bryan Pyle ran in the conversion. The Panthers scored again when Adam Williams scored on a perfectly-thrown pass over the middle by Mortensen which went for 75 yards. Williams got out front of the secondary and raced untouched.

The final score came when Hermann, on a crossing pattern, grabbed a pass from 11 yards out. Mortensen hit Steve Marquez for the conversion. That was Mortensen’s final snap at quarterback. He finished the season with 1,953 yards and 21 TDs. He was the fourth Panther in five years to lead Class 4A in passing.

The Panthers piled up 189 yards rushing and 298 passing. Lee carried the ball seven times for 90 yards. Mortensen passed for 245 of those yards.

The defense played very well. The Panthers had a goalline stand at the end of the first half. On two other occasions the Pirates got twice inside the 20 and did not score.

"Those two goalline stands in the first half really took the wind out of their sails," Geddes added. "The defense really rose to the occasion and defensive coordinator Bob Archibeque deserves a lot of credit."

Geddes also credited offensive linemen Andrew Pearson, Randy Rosenbaugh, Dan O’Neill, and Shawn Randolph for playing well.

The Pirates, who finished the regular season at 7-2 , are headed into the Class 3A playoffs this weekend.