It’s playoff time, and Jefferson High’s football and volleyball teams enjoyed strong first weekends as both launched what they hope will be runs toward state championships.
The football squad made the long trip to Red Lodge to face the Red Lodge-Roberts-Belfry co-op team, which had finished second in the Eastern District during the regular season. The Panthers saw their first snow of the season, though most of what fell was absorbed by game time, as well as their first artificial turf. (The Panthers had prepared by practicing earlier in the week on Montana State University’s turf in Bozeman.)
The game would prove to be a defensive battle. Red Lodge received the ball to start—and three plays later, it was forced to punt. The Panthers immediately took to the ground, as they would all afternoon: Riley Stock picked 9 yards, Luke Oxarart drove for a first down, and Dylan Root ran for 12 on third down.
