Scotties Trail Panthers 27-18 at Buzzer

Glasgow's 2023 football season came to end on Scottie Field Oct. 28 with a 27-18 loss to the Jefferson Panthers in the first round of the playoffs. The Scotties fought until the final horn sounded but were unable to overcome the points deficit.

Neither team lit up the scoreboard in the first quarter, but the visiting Panthers took control of the game in the second with two touchdowns. Jefferson quarterback Tyzer Zody connected with Parker Wagner on two passes – one 37 yards and the second 28 yards – to build up their lead. The Panthers connected on both of their PATs for a 14-0 lead by the half.

Jefferson scored twice more early in the third, but had both touchdowns called back for penalties before Glasgow reclaimed possession on a Richards PBU. The Scotties showed they still had fight in them when Toryn Richards – in as alternating quarterback role with Khye Gamas – kept the pigskin and ran 43 yards for Glasgow's first touchdown. The PAT failed giving the Panthers a 14-6 lead.

The fourth quarter proved to be a back and forth battle as each team scored twice more. The Panthers started the scoring spree at 7:27 on a 10 yard run to take a 20-6 lead when the PAT failed. Glasgow answered with a 30-yard pass from Gamas to Tatum Hansen to bring the Scotties within 8 points. Back within striking distance, the Scotties successfully recovered the onside kick post-touchdown but an interception gave possession back to the visitors. Jefferson made good on their play with a 27-yard run and a scoring PAT to build their lead up to 27-12.

Facing a two-possession deficit as the clock ran down, the Scotties continued to fight. Gamas scored on a QB keeper from four yards out as the buzzer sounded, narrowing Glasgow's loss to 27-18.

Jefferson put up 341 total yards offense – 218 rushing and 134 passing – as Glasgow put 284 total yards, 299 net, on 125 passing and 159 rushing yards.

Vaughn Miller led the Scottie D-line with 19 total tackles, 11 unassisted. Richards had 10 total, seven unassisted, two assisted and a tackle for loss. Kohl Kittleson added nine, seven solo. Connor Hudyma put up eight tackles, six unassisted and Jaydeen Hanshew seven, three unassisted. Wyatt Babb, Hansen and Tavin Boland added four total a piece while Liam Chapman and William Kirkland both had two total tackles with Kirkland adding a sack. Gamas and Kade Strommen put one tackle each on the books.

Richards added two pass break-ups while Hansen had the team's lone hurry.

Monson had two kickoffs for 26 and 12 yards. Brody Hansen had five punts for a total of 145 yards. Richards added 15 yards and Gamas 14 on one kickoff return each. Richards also had a fair catch and 18 yards on punt returns.

Gamas completed 13-of-29 passes, with one touchdown and one interception, for 125 passing yards. Richards was 0-for-3 in his time at quarterback. Babb put up 58 yards on five catches. T. Hansen added 25 yards on three receptions with one touchdown with Coy Nelson right behind him at 24 yards on three snags. Strommen added one catch for 17 yards and Richards had one yard on one catch.

T. Hansen led in rushing yards with 80 on six carries. Richards added 70 yards on nine rushes and Gamas put up 32 yards on eight carries, both with a touchdown.

Glasgow went 3-for-13 on third downs and 3-for-5 on fourth downs, going 1-for-1 in the redzone.

While neither head coach Patrick Barnett or assistant coach Sam Tedrow saw the outcome they were looking for, both remained proud of their 2023 team.

"I was very proud of my team for not quitting the game. They played hard to the very end of the game. Many teams would have stopped playing on the last drive of the game, and they did not," Barnett said. "It was hard watching this team be done for the year and seeing the seniors move on. One of the hardest parts of coaching a player is seeing what you can make out of them and then seeing them move on. I will miss this senior class as they were good football players but better people."

He closed with some hard-to-take wisdom for his players, "We learned a lot of lessons this past season. I was told as a young player that 'A perfect season is when you go 5-5. You learned how to win, and you learned how to lose.' I hate this still to this day."

Tedrow echoed his head coach, "Tough outcome to swallow to say the least. Proud of our guys for fighting until the final horn, giving up never crossed their minds. Going to miss our four seniors: They were the core of this team and [I] couldn't be more proud of the season they helped put together.

"Looking forward to next August and seeing how the work the younger guys will put in this offseason will translate onto the field next year."

Glasgow loses T. Hansen, Kittleson, Miller and Richards to graduation but the Scotties look to return a roster full of younger players who gained extensive experience this season.