RHS Panthers lose to a solid Hotchkiss Bulldog team

RANGELY I The Panther football team lost to the No. 2 ranked Hotchkiss Bulldogs Friday last on Yeager Field and will host the Hayden Tigers this Friday.
The Bulldogs, the only 1A Western Slope team ranked in the top 10 by the Denver Post, put the game away in the first quarter, where they scored 42 points on the Panthers.
“Hotchkiss was solid and executed well,” head coach Paul Fortunato said. “They made very few mistakes and it showed why they are ranked No. 2 in the state.”
Panther quarterback Kody Denny connected with Andrew Morton for a 70-yard touchdown reception, for Rangely’s only score in the game in the second quarter. Denny passed for 128 yards, including 96 to Morton and completions to Cameron Enterline and Connor Phelan.
Neither team scored in the third quarter and Hotchkiss added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“The guys played hard and I was proud of them,” Fortunato said.
On defense, Colton Coombs led the Panthers with six tackles. Denny, Justin Goddard, Sam Woodall and Morton all finished with four tackles each.
The Panthers will play another league game this Friday at home, as the Tigers from Hayden come to town.
“We will continue to get better and get ready for Hayden this weekend,” Fortunato said.