Barbara Lawlor

Nederland

It was a one touchdown win for the Mustangs, but both West Grand and Nederland teams walked off the field standing tall.  West Grand was strong like a sledge hammer and a couple of the Ned players were beat up, but they all walked proudly to the closing handshake.

The Nederland High School Panthers can celebrate their 21-28 homecoming loss, because they played hard against the West Grand Mustangs from Kremmling, who are undefeated. Even when Panther quarterback Jaylan Rasdall was knocked out of the game, Damon Vigil stepped up to the line and threw two touchdown passes, bringing the Panthers close to catching up. He was named Overall Player of the Game for his efforts.

It was Homecoming and stands were filled with Panther fans. The electricity buzzed among the students after the afternoon's Pep Rally. Having the game on Friday night was an attempt by the administration to get more community members to show up and the time switch apparently worked as hundreds showed up to cheer on our home team.

Nederland received the opening kickoff and began a determined drive into Mustang territory. Ned's Kenny Shankey had the ball, making headway towards the end zone in successive first downs. Rasdall lofted a long pass to Trig Campbell and he was in. Caleb Pugmire kicked the PAT and the score was 7-0.

The roar of the crowd dwindled, however, when the Mustangs galloped downfield to the Panther 10 yard line and then pushed in for the score. They were stopped from making the conversion though, and the score was 7-6.

In the next series, Nederland bobbled the ball which was recovered by West Grand on Panther ground. The Mustangs began to jackhammer the 17-yard-stretch to the goal with potent jabs until they scored. With momentum behind them, they pushed in for the two-point conversion and the score was 7-14.

The second quarter began with Ned running the Kickoff return to their own 35-yard line. A Nederland fumble was picked up by a Mustang and West Grand used the opportunity to score again. The gap widened to a 7-20 deficit.

Nederland received the kick and Jean-Luc Pinaud had a good run up to the 43-yard line, but the next pass was intercepted. Unable to gain ground, the Mustangs were forced to punt and the Panthers began a four first-downs drive which put them in West Grand territory, but that was as far as they got before they too had to punt.

In the next series, Rasdall headed downfield on a keeper but was yanked back by a West Grand player, obviously shaken up. The next pass was intercepted by the Mustangs and the quarter ended.

West Grand moved into Panther land after a failed on side kick and were soon on the Nederland 16-yard line. Ned senior Adler Mueller made a pivotal interception, stopping the Mustang stampede and reversing the momentum.

Sophomore Damon Vigil took over for injured Rasdall and within three plays passed to Pugmire who ran in for the touchdown and then went on to make the PAT kick. The score is a competitive 14-20 and the homecoming crowd went wild.

Before the end of the third quarter, the Mustangs bucked and kicked their way into the end zone for another touchdown and then a two-point conversion bringing the score to 14-28 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The game wasn't done, however. The Ned guys were not giving up.

With six minutes in the game, Vigil once again found Pugmire who battled and twisted his way into the end zone. A good PAT kick and the score was 21-28 and time to tie the game.

After the kickoff to the Mustangs, Bob Allen recovered a West Grand fumble and the Panthers moved into horse country, to the 20-yard line. An interception put an end to that attack.

West Grand took one on the Panther 41 with two minutes left in the game. Announcer Jeff Miller asked the crowd to talk to the defense and they put up a roar that stopped the Mustangs.

The Panthers moved but not fast enough or far enough and the clock wound down on the 21-28 score.

Short of winning, it was a great Panther Homecoming Football game.

Players of the Game

44 Damon Vigil was the Overall Player of the Game, 9 Caleb Pugmire was the Offensive Player of the Game, 21 Trig Campbell was the Defensive Player of the Game and 3 Jean-Luc Pineau was the Special Teams Player of the Game.

The next two games will be away games, at Rocky Mountain Lutheran and then Dove Creek, and the next home game, the final game of the season, will be on Saturday, October 29, 2016 against Del Norte at 1 p.m.

Individual Stats:

Jaylan Rasdall, senior: 7 completions of 15 attempts for 53 yards and 1 touchdown; six carries for 96 yards

Damon Vigil, sophomore: 10 completions of 18 attempts for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns; 1 solo tackle, 1 assist

Kenny Shankey, senior: 14 carries of 51 yards; 3 receptions for 15 yards; 9 solo tackles, 4 assists; 1 sack; 2 kickoff returns of 38 yards

Trig Campbell, senior: 3 receptions for 26 yards and 1 touchdown; 8 solo tackles and 3 assist; 2 punts for 50 yards

Jean-Luc Pineau, senior: 5 receptions for 42 yard; 3 punt returns for 45 yards; 2 kickoff returns for 48 yards

Caleb Pugmire, senior: 5 receptions for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns; 3 solo tackles and 1 assist; 4 kickoffs for 165 yards; 3 PATs

Adler Mueller, senior: 1 solo attack, 2 assist, 1 interception

Garret Cuervorst, sophomore: 2 assists

Chris Francis, freshman: 1 solo tackle

Hunter Chilcote, sophomore: 1 solo tackle

Brennan Johnson, junior: 1 solo tackle

Robert Allen, senior: 7 solo tackles, 3 assists, 2 sacks

Keyghan Otten, senior: 14 solo tackles, 3 assists

Rain Larabee, sophomore: 2 solo tackles

Taylor Hoffman, sophomore: 1 fumble recovery