It was a beautiful fall day on Panther field Friday, Nov. 2, for the second round of playoffs featuring Cokeville and Upton-Sundance. The winner would advance to the 1A championship game on Saturday, Nov. 10, and the loser would head home.

The first half of the game was a defensive battle.

The Cokeville Panthers put 13 points on the board in the first half to lead the visiting Upton-Sundance Patriots 13–0. Cokeville picked up the momentum in the second half and capitalized on many Patriot turnovers to earn 12 more points in the second half.

Upton-Sundance found the endzone one time late in the fourth quarter but it was not enough, as the Panthers took the huge win 25–6 to clinch a spot in the 2018 1A Championship game against Big Horn at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 1:00 p.m.

The Panther pass defense was on fire as four turnovers came in the air with interceptions being snagged by Hayden Hatch, Devin Donahue, Nate Barnes and Andrew Thomas. Cokeville also had four fumble recoveries by Andrew Thomas (2), Ammon Teichert and Brayden Johnson.

Scoring for the Panthers were Bentley Johnson (3 touchdowns) and Lochlyn Teichert. The team really came together and played well. It will take another great team effort for the Panthers to come away with the state title on Saturday.

Cokeville seniors Andrew Thomas, Brayden Johnson, Lochlyn Teichert, Hayden Hatch, Bentley Johnson, Jaydon Nelson, Devan Moody, Gage Reece, Jake Harmon, Ammon Teichert and Zoie Vierig were honored at the start of Friday’s playoff game.