Panthers’ comeback falls short in Hayden

RANGELY | For a second week in a row, the Rangely Panther football team has scored on its first drive but then gave up 36 unanswered points and although they scored twice in the fourth quarter, the comeback was too little, too late. Rangely, currently 1-5, will now travel to Kremmling to play the No. 2 ranked West Grand Mustangs this Friday.
Panther quarterback Drew Brannan scored a rushing touchdown on Rangely’s first possession but the Panthers would not get on the scoreboard again until the fourth quarter, trailing 6-44 at the end of the first half.
“We had a hard fought first half but then the boys came back alive in the fourth quarter, with two touchdown strikes,” Panther head coach Paul Fortunato said. “But it was a little late.”
Sophomore running back Tytus Coombs, who rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries, broke away for a 42-yard touchdown run.
Brannan completed four of 11 passes for 92 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to junior classmate CJ Lucero. Junior Adrian Lujan caught the other three passes for a total of 65 yards, including one for 55. Junior Devin Ramirez scored a two-point conversion.
Coombs led the Panthers with 12 tackles, while junior Lane Gillard and freshman Anthony Lujan were each in on six, including a sack by Gillard and Lucero had an interception.
“We will continue to push on,” coach Fortunato said.