It was 28-0 in a hurry.
Hosting the Miyamura Patriots on Friday, the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers were out-scored 21-0 in the first quarter.
Patriots running back Alias Starkovich was responsible for three of Miyamura’s first four touchdowns, one coming on a 14-yard catch and the others on rushes of 64 yards and 13 yards.
It wasn’t that the Panthers were surprised by Miyamura’s plays, said defensive coordinator Keith Mikhail.
“Their offense just executed better than our defense,” he said.
Down 31-0 at half, Mikhail said the Panthers’ goal was to win the second half.
“They just never gave up,” he said of the young M-CHS squad.
M-CHS kicked off to start the third quarter, and the Patriots strung together a drive on the ground, ending with a 30-yard touchdown run by Nolan Menapace.
But neither team scored again in the third.
The two traded possessions, with Cordell Ridings recovering a Miyamura fumble, then the Panthers going three-and-out and punting, followed by the Patriots punting it back.
The Panthers finally got on the board in the fourth quarter.
After recovering a Miyamura fumble, M-CHS put together a drive that included a big run by Colton Reynolds down to the 10-yard line, and was capped off by a Ridings touchdown pass to junior Josh Ramos.
The Panthers quickly struck again, when junior Tanner Desrosiers scooped up a Miyamura fumble on the next possession and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown, bringing the score to 38-13.
Miyamura would score once more to bring the score to 45-13, and with M-CHS unable to find the end zone in its final possession, the game ended 45-13.
While the Panthers were greatly outplayed in the first half, Mikhail spoke of their goal to win the second.
And although Miyamura brought in substitutions late in the game, the Panthers’ second-half play showed improvement, scoring 13 points and holding Miyamura to 14.
Head coach Scott Conklin and the Panthers are blessed with a bye this week, which will allow banged-up members of the team extra time to rest.
It will also give the team an extra week to prepare for Grand Junction Central (1-0), before their meeting in Grand Junction, Friday, Sept. 18.