JACKSON, Wyo. — The heavyweight clash between the two titans atop the 3A West was everything billed as the Jackson Broncs came away with a 21-14 victory against the Powell Panthers on Friday.
Nothing worth winning is easy and it was everything but for the visiting Broncs as Jackson needed nearly every minute of the first half to get its first points, and all but the final moment of regulation to score the game-winning touchdown.
The game featured the conference’s best defense against its top offense. It was defense that ruled the day.
Defensive struggle
Jackson’s star running back Brody Hasenack found little running room against the Panthers, who stacked the box with aggressive linebacker play led by Toran Graham who led his team in tackles.
When Hasenack tried to bounce things outside, Powell corners broke off coverage and made big stops or turned him back inside.
Coach David Joyce then turned to the play-action passing game and option keepers with Sadler Smith to try and take advantage of Powell’s keying on Hasenack. It worked to some degree but the big play was never there. The Broncs had to rely on patient, steady drives fueled by first downs that were made with little yardage to spare.
Neither team had much success running the ball. The difference in a razor-close game was turnovers and Smith’s throwing arm. Smith hit on a few big passes to Colter Dawson and Sam Scott.
The Broncs defense contained shifty Panther QB Landon Lengfelder, who did not have a great day passing and found scant success with his legs. In fact, it was two lost fumbles from Lengfelder that led to Broncs touchdowns.
Three turnovers in all cost the Panthers. Jackson committed just one, an excusable shot downfield to Hasenack. Smith put the ball right where it needed to be but Hasenack was well blanketed and the ball was picked off in the endzone by the Panther corner. Nothing hurt, Powell took over at its own 20.
Exciting finish
The first 24 minutes of Friday’s game was all Panthers. Neither team was able to get much on track with the offense but Powell was winning the game of field position and nursing a 7-0 lead until late in the first half when Jackson finally scored on a trick play flea-flicker capped by a beautiful snag in the endzone by Sam Lopeman.
The Broncs took a 14-7 early in the 2nd half but Powell would not be deterred. The Panthers tied the score and momentum began to swing again their way until Lengfelder put the ball on the ground for the second time and Jackson recovered.
With minutes remaining, coach Joyce gets a game ball for the play-calling on the final drive. The normally uptempo offense slowed enough to allow the clock to tick away as the Broncs played for the final score. With no running room between the tackles, Joyce dialed up a 5-receiver, empty backfield look to spread the Powell defense sideline-to-sideline, softening things up in the middle.
Powell had to honor the threat Smith could throw, but several designed quarterback runs were successful for first downs until a third and long had Smith looking in the endzone again for Lopeman. Under heavy pressure, Smith tossed up an ill-advised prayer with far too much air under it.
But Lopeman bailed him out with another spectacular catch in the endzone with 55 seconds remaining. Give Lopeman a game ball as well. A fumble recovery and two TD catches for the wideout who has been plagued with a case of drop-itis this season. Not Friday against Powell in the biggest game of the year.
The big win on the road moves Jackson to 7-1, 4-0 on the season and locks the Broncs in for a playoff berth. The Broncs will enjoy home-field advantage for the first and second round of the playoffs. A win over Cody this Friday would guarantee the postseason road to state goes through the Willie Mac.
