RANGELY I On a rain-soaked Oct. 9, the Rangely Junior High Panthers football team concluded its season with a win over the Soroco Rams, ending the Panthers season with a 14-12 victory and a 7-1 overall record.
Rain fell throughout the game, causing playing conditions to be rough for the Panthers and Rams.
Soroco put the first points on the scoreboard by taking their opening drive seven plays for 53 yards and the score.
The Panther defense proved to be tough on the goal line by stopping the two-point conversion. Rangely then responded with quarterback Devin Ramirez catching a pass from running back Robert Osteen for 36 yards and the score. The Panthers failed to convert the extra point when the snap was bobbled by Ramirez.
Soroco then responded as their quarterback scampered 47 yards for the touchdown, putting the Rams up 12-6.
Rangely failed to score on its next three drives.
In the third quarter, the Panthers were stopped on four straight drives, but the Panther defense held tight against the Rams offense by responding to each stop by the Rams with a stop of their own.
Defensive tackles Riley Boydstun and Tristan Moore had two game-impacting plays a piece when they wrapped up the SoRoCo quarterback in the backfield on two separate third-and-short conversion attempts.
In the fourth quarter, the Panthers offense was able to move the ball, due in part to tremendous offensive line play by Stetson Cudo, Riley Boydstun, Bransen Shelton and Drew Brannen and outstanding blocking in the backfield by Titus Coombs.
Devin Ramirez scored the game-tying touchdown with five minutes left in the fourth quarter by taking a read play around the right side and down the sideline, finishing with an outstretched dive to put the football on the pylon for the touchdown.
Robert Osteen then took the next play around the right side and carried a Ram defender into the end zone for the two-point conversion and all the lead the team needed. The defense then held tough against the Ram offense by stopping them on their last three drives.
