Potter-Dix Back On Track, Beats Wallace 47-22 In Opener

Potter-Dix’s Coyote football team had an historic run last season, going 9-and-0 in the regular season before finally being knocked-off by Cody-Kilgore in the playoffs. The team members made a commitment to each other to come back better and stronger, and it was obvious the boys had put in plenty of time in the weight room during the off-season. The work paid off for the Coyotes as they put away the Wallace Wolves in decisive fashion after a relatively slow start.

With a 90 degree temperature and a gentle breeze at kickoff, the Wolves used their first possession to show off their speed. With juniors Carson Glunz and Trey Robertson carrying the ball, the Wolves put together a drive that brought Wallace all they way down to inside the Coyote’s 10 yard line. A fourth down penalty pushed Wallace back, but Wolves’ quarterback Kolton Hager was able to evade the rush from Potter-Dix junior Luke Kasten just long enough to find Cam McConnell in the endzone and give the Wolves an early 8-to-0 lead.

After a short squib kick to avoid a return, the Coyotes started near midfield. On the first play, senior Jared Anton took a pitch and jetted around the end for a 42 yard touchdown scamper, and after a blocked point after attempt, the Coyotes trailed 8-to-6. However, on the Wolves’ next possession, Luke Kasten burst through into the backfield and tipped a pass attempt and caught the ball himself to get the ball back to the Coyotes. Potter-Dix seemed to be driving for a go ahead score, but the ball was fumbled by Luke Kasten attempting to handle a pitch in the backfield.

Both teams struggled with miscues and penalties throughout the first half, but the Coyotes looked to the lead in the second quarter when a Luke Kasten rushing touchdown was called back by a holding penalty. A big fourth and nine pass to Zack Rotert was then also called back by a penalty, and the Potter-Dix drive stalled. After forcing a Wallace punt on their next drive, Potter-Dix switched up and went into a hurry-up offense. Jared Anton and Luke Kasten each had big runs to get the Coyotes deep into Wolves’ territory, and Anton scored on a 1 yard touchdown run to make the score 14-to-8. The Potter-Dix defense took over and forced a turnover on downs on Wallace’s next possession. The Coyotes followed up by driving the ball down to the Wallace 1 yard line, and with 16 seconds left in the half, the Wolves defense bit on a play-action fake to Jared Anton, and sophomore Brayden Kasten connected with Ben Johnson for the touchdown, and the Coyotes took a 20-to-8 lead into the half.

Potter-Dix continued its’ offensive attack in the third quarter, receiving the ball near mid-field then scoring on the second play from scrimmage when Luke Kasten trucked 67 yards for a touchdown and a 28-to-8 lead. Wallace struck back when Trey Robertson showed his track speed and returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown for the Wolves to move the score to 28-to-14.

But the Wolves’ defense could not stop the Coyote offense, and Potter-Dix continued to match scores then pull away in the fourth quarter for a final score of 47-to-22 to win their first game of the season. Jared Anon made a huge impact returning from injury, rushing 19 times for 213 yards and four touchdowns. Luke Kasten finished with 14 carries for 167 yards and two touchdowns and went 7-for-9 and 73 yards in the air.

The beefed-up Coyotes did struggle with penalties and a few miscues, but had a solid opening game and look to again to be the team to beat in D-6 Football. The Coyotes have their home opener on Friday when they host the visiting Sioux County Warriors at Combs Field in Potter.