<\/p>\n
Before his team\u2019s first game of the season, Montezuma-Cortez High School football coach Scott Conklin predicted that senior quarterback Ike Dennison would \u201cbe one of the top gunslingers\u201d in Colorado\u2019s 2A Class.<\/p>\n
And while it still might be a bit premature to anoint Dennison as such given that his team has only played three games, the senior\u2019s performance during M-CHS\u2019 49-0 home victory over Zuni went a long way toward giving credence to his coach\u2019s words.<\/p>\n
Looking like a seasoned high school veteran, Dennison picked apart Zuni\u2019s defense en route to 153 yards passing and five passing touchdowns. Three of the Panthers\u2019 signal caller\u2019s TD strikes went to senior receiver Cordell Baer, who made four catches for 157 yards overall.<\/p>\n
Junior Teagan Whiteskunk got his first touchdown reception of his high school career, and senior Vinny Conklin and junior Chris Matimba also had touchdown receptions. M-CHS racked up 234 passing yards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just seeing an open field and making my reads as usual,\u201d Dennison said. (Zuni) had one-on-ones, and I read the defense and was able to make some big plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been playing together since third grade, and we\u2019re all playing with heart and not giving up,\u201d said Baer. \u201cThis is definitely our year.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Panthers\u2019 scoring spree opened early in the first quarter when Dennison connected with Baer on a two-yard touchdown pass to make the score 6-0.<\/p>\n
M-CHS scored its second touchdown when the two seniors connected two minutes later on a 75-yard touchdown pass that came on a screen play to the left. Key blocks by several linemen and two receivers made the long touchdown play possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe worked on pass blocking a lot this week, and I think we just executed,\u201d Baer said. \u201c(Whiteskunk) and Conklin both had big blocks, and I was able to get outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Baer\u2019s big game catching the ball stole the show on the stat sheet, Conklin\u2019s contributions were not overlooked by fans and teammates as the senior ran for 51 yards and one touchdown and accumulated 44 receiving yards.<\/p>\n
M-CHS\u2019 defense was also stout throughout the night and allowed Zuni\u2019s no breathing room, thanks in large part to Matthew Broughton, who had 15 total tackles and one interception. Baer and Swayde Noyes each had sacks for the Panthers, and Vallentino Rodriguez came down with one interception. Senior linebacker Zeke Vargas had 12 tackles for M-CHS.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just playing as a team and trusting each other,\u201d Broughton said. \u201cWe\u2019re doing our job and not trying to do anyone else\u2019s. It\u2019s hard to move the ball on us. We do everything well on defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
M-CHS led 42-0 at halftime before tacking on a final touchdown when sophomore quarterback Ty Blackmer connected with Baer midway through the fourth quarter to cap off the scoring and put his team ahead 49-0.<\/p>\n
With the win, the Panthers improved to 2-1 on the season. Zuni dropped to 1-2.<\/p>\n
Next up for M-CHS will be a tough road matchup against Delta on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t take (Delta) lightly,\u201d Dennison said. \u201cWe want to hit them with blunt force. \u2026 We have to keep doing what we\u2019re doing and take things one game at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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