RHS trounces South Park

RANGELY I The Rangely Panther football team will enter the Colorado state playoffs on a three-game winning streak after defeating South Park 50-26 in the final game of the regular season last Friday at home on Yaeger Field. The Panthers will travel to Kiowa for their first playoff appearance in almost a decade in the A8-man state playoffs against the Indians this Saturday.
“I think this was a good way to end the regular season and set the tone for the playoffs,” head coach Paul Fortunato said.
The Panthers jumped out to a 22-7 lead at the end of the first quarter after senior Chas Byerly scored two touchdowns and classmate Colton Coombs ran for another and a two-point conversion. The Panthers didn’t let up, putting 28 unanswered points on the scoreboard and the game away in the second quarter, leading 50-7 at halftime.
Senior Tobie Gasper ran for a touchdown and threw for another, Byerly had intercepted a pass for a “pick six” and freshman Kaulan Brady threw a touchdown pass.
Byerly ran for 103 yards, scored three touchdowns and had two interceptions and Coombs led the team with 118 yards.
“I am truly proud of the turnaround the guys have made this year. These seniors have gone from being at the bottom to a playoff-qualifying team and that’s something they should be proud of.”
The Panthers will play the Kiowa Indians, who are currently 7-1, this Saturday with the kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
“Everybody we see from now on will be solid, so we are going to just continue to work hard and get better every day,” Fortunato said.