Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Articles written by Mike Motz


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  • Coyotes Stopped At District After Subdistrict Title

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Feb 29, 2024

    MAYWOOD--After a middling 11-11 performance during the regular season, the Potter-Dix Coyote boys basketball team had a tall task ahead of them, as they had to travel as the number 15 seed to match up with number 2 seed Maywood-Hayes Center in the D2-2 District Final. Even prior to the consolidation of the Maywood and Hayes Center School districts, both teams were perennial State Tournament participants, and this season sailed to a 21-3 record. The Coyotes would have to play their very best game, with lights-out defense, if they were to get...

  • Lady Coyotes Win Big Over Garden County

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Feb 8, 2024

    On Friday night, February 2, the Lady Coyotes of Potter-Dix had a big win over the visiting Garden County Lady Eagles, while the Potter-Dix boys were unable to get the win against their Garden County counterparts. The girls game started as a tight defensive match, with each team's defense disrupting the flow of the other's offense. The teams battled but Garden County took a three-point 9-6 lead a the end of the first quarter. The second period had the Lady Coyotes break out, putting up 17 points...

  • Tough Going On Road For Coyotes

    Mike Motz|Feb 1, 2024

    It was a tough week for the Potter-Dix Coyote basketball teams, as they made a long trip out to New Raymer, Colo., on Tuesday, January 23, and came up empty and then hosted Crawford on Saturday afternoon only to come out on the wrong side of the ledger each time. Tuesday's matchup had the teams travel to New Raymer to take on the Prairie Mustang teams. The third-ranked 1A Central Lady Mustangs opened the girls contest hot, quickly building a lead and building an 18-5 lead at the end of the...

  • Boys Win, Girls Lose In P-D Hoops

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Jan 11, 2024

    The Coyote basketball teams opened 2024 with a challenging task, games against rivals Bayard and South Platte. The boys team was able to grab wins in both contests, while the Lady Coyotes struggled with losses in their first contests of the new year. The Lady Coyotes opened on Friday night against a very strong Bayard team, and it was quickly apparent that the Lady Coyotes did not have the firepower to keep up with the Lady Tigers. The Bayard girls opened a big lead early and cruised all night, ending the game with a 59-9 victory....

  • Coyote Boys & Girls Split Against Caliche, Banner County

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Dec 21, 2023

    Potter-Dix’s basketball teams each went 1-1 over the past week, with both teams dropping their contests against Caliche, and then both winning their games against Banner County. On December 14, the Caliche Buffalo teams came up from Colorado, and the action started with the girls game. The Lady Buffs were tough on defense, allowing very few good looks for the Lady Coyotes to start off the game. After Caliche built a 15-4 lead in the first quarter, Potter-Dix roared back in the second quarter, putting up 13 points in the period. But the Lady C...

  • Coyotes Split Vs. Storm, Paxton

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Dec 14, 2023

    Potter-Dix's Coyote basketball teams continued their start of the season, matching up against Creek Valley on December 8 and Paxton on December 9. The Creek Valley teams traveled to Potter on December 8, and the girls started first with their game. Potter-Dix opened a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Lady Storm did a great job on defense in the second quarter, limiting the Lady Coyotes to just three points in the frame. Trailing 19-13 at the half, the Lady Coyotes responded...

  • Coyote Boys 1-1, Girls 0-2

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Dec 7, 2023

    Potter-Dix’s Coyote basketball teams started their seasons with losses and look to turn things around quickly before they fall too far in the standings. With an opening matchup on the road against a tough Morrill team, the Lady Coyotes were overmatched and quickly fell behind. The Lady Lions’ defense was too strong for the Lady Coyotes to mount a consistent attack, while the Morrill girls had no trouble setting their offense and scoring. The game was pretty much decided before the end of the first half, and the Lady Lions breezed to a 61-...

  • Potter-Dix Earns Fourth Straight Undefeated Season

    Mike Motz|Oct 26, 2023

    POTTER-- For the fourth straight year, the Potter-Dix Coyote 6-man football team has ended its regular season undefeated, and is ready to battle through the playoffs in hopes of a State Championship. Although there was some talk prior to the season about how the team would handle the graduation of All-Star Luke Kasten, those that followed the team closely knew that for all of Kasten's brilliance on the field, the Coyotes were not a one-note team reliant upon one superstar for success. And as...

  • Coyote Football Stays Unbeaten

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Oct 19, 2023

    OSHKOSH – Potter-Dix’s Coyote football team remained unbeaten with a 36-28 victory over Garden County in Oshkosh, spoiling the Eagles homecoming celebration and showing they’re still one of the best teams in D6 football. Garden County opened strong and took an early lead, but the Coyotes were able to take a lead in the third quarter and held off the Eagles for the win. Garden County put up two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions to score 16 points in the first quarter, while Potter-Dix’s offense had trouble getting on track and onl...

  • Potter-Dix Wins 72-0, Remains Unbeaten

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Oct 12, 2023

    POTTER – Potter-Dix’s Coyote Football team stayed unbeaten with another big win over Creek Valley, 72-0. The winless Storm had no chance against the high-powered Coyote offense, and the game was effectively over when the Coyotes put up 40 unanswered points in the first quarter. Potter-Dix tacked on another 24 points to take a 64-0 lead into the halftime break. The Coyotes substituted freely in the second half and added 8 more points as they cruised to the win. Sophomore Dylan Tabor ran the Coyote offense from the quarterback position, and com...

  • Coyotes Win At Banner

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Sep 28, 2023

    Potter-Dix’s Coyote football team stayed unbeaten with another dominant win, this time over the Banner County Wildcats on Friday, September 22. The Coyotes traveled to Harrisburg for the contest, and now get a week off before resuming their schedule by hosting the winless Creek Valley Storm on October 6. The Coyotes started fast, scoring two TDs in the first quarter, but were unable to convert extra point tries, so they held a 12-0 lead going into the second quarter. Banner got on the board with a touchdown, and after Potter-Dix scored a...

  • Tough Week of Matches For Potter-Dix Lady Coyotes

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Sep 28, 2023

    Potter-Dix’s Lady Coyote volleyball team has been struggling against the better teams they face while beating the lesser teams, and gaining experience the whole time with their young squad. The past week was challenging for the Lady Coyotes, with a triangular on Tuesday, September 19, tournament play on Saturday, September 23, and an away match against Banner County sandwiched in between. The Lady Coyotes traveled to Wallace last Tuesday, and matched up with the host Lady Wildcats and Wauneta-Palisade. Their first match against Wallace did n...

  • Longhorns Win, 40-10, Over Leyton

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Sep 7, 2023

    The Kimball Longhorns football team had a reason to celebrate Friday night, at the expense of the Warrior team from Leyton. It was the Longhorns first home win since the end of September 2018, which gave the rebuilding program a greatly needed shot in the arm. The Horns are 1-1 on the 2023 season. The Warriors, trying to recover after an opening loss to Hemingford, got off to a good start in the game. Their defense was able to keep the Longhorns pinned down deep in their own territory, and then...

  • Coyotes Continue Strong Start, Beat Crawford

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Sep 7, 2023

    CRAWFORD – Potter-Dix's Coyote football team continued its strong start to the 2023 season, breezing past the Crawford Rams on the road Friday, September 1, by a final score of 69-31. Senior quarterback Brayden Kasten led the Coyotes again, completing 8 of 14 passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 211 yards on 11 carries and scoring three touchdowns on the ground. Senior Jaxen Buettenback rushed 10 times for 73 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also had two blocked f...

  • New-Look Coyotes Win In Old-School Style, 73-0

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Aug 31, 2023

    DALTON--There are questions about the Potter-Dix Coyotes after the graduation of star player Luke Kasten, but none of them were answered Friday night as the Coyotes again breezed through the Minatare Indians, 73-0 at Combs Field. The Coyotes crushed the Indians last year in the opener, 85-6, and this year's results were very similar. With three pass completions by senior Brayden Kasten and one more by sophomore Dylan Tabor, the Coyotes only passed four times for 61 yards, but scored two touchdow...

  • KASTEN AN MVP AT CAN-AM BOWL

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Jul 13, 2023

    For the last four years, the Panhandle area sports scene has been dominated by the best athlete in the region, Luke Kasten of Potter. The Potter-Dix 2023 graduate burst on to the scene four years ago as a freshman, leading the Potter-Dix Coyote 6-Man football team to a resurgence that in following years saw undefeated seasons and chances to play for State Championships. I remember when I first saw Kasten play football four years ago saying to one of the parents watching, "This kid is amazing."...

  • Kasten Stars, Nebraska Beats Wyoming

    Mike Motz|Jun 8, 2023

    The 12th Annual "Battle of the Border" Nebraska/Wyoming 6-Man Football All-Star game was played Friday night at Chadron State College, and the Nebraska team started hot and had no trouble putting away their Wyoming counterparts by a final score of 52-16. The Nebraska boys scored early and often, putting up two touchdowns in the first period then three more in the second period while hold Wyoming to just one touchdown and two point conversion in the first half. In the second half, Nebraska put...

  • New Coaches At P-D

    Mike Motz, The Observer|May 25, 2023

    Chris Arent, Potter-Dix schools superintendent, announced on Tuesday the Ms. Morgan Boots has been named as the High School’s head play production coach (One Act) for the 2023-24 school year. Boots brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Play Production program, through her college training and acting as an assistant coach with the Play Production program. Boots is thrilled and committed to continuing Potter-Dix’s long tradition of excellence in the Play Production program. Arent also announced that Potter-Dix schools K-12 phy...

  • P-D Girls 3rd, Boys 4th in Mac

    Mike Motz, The Observer|May 4, 2023

    Potter-Dix’s Coyote Track and Field teams traveled to Leyton High School on Saturday for the MAC High School Meet, and the girls’ squad placed third out of eight teams with 58 points, and the boys’ squad finished fourth out of seven teams with 95 points. Bayard and South Platte placed first and second in the girls’ competition, and Garden County took the top spot for the boys, followed by Bayard and Leyton. Outstanding individual performances for the Potter-Dix girls included senior Lily Tabor winning the Pole Vault, clearing 8’ 6” and placing...

  • Coyote Trap Club On Target

    Mike Motz, THe Observer|May 4, 2023

    Potter-Dix’s Trap Shooting Club as been in full swing since March, with their Friday competitions improving the scores of their members every week. Competing in the U.S.A. Clay Target League of junior and senior high students, the 13 members of the Coyote team shoot every Friday and enter their scores weekly. “This is a very laid back activity where the kids can relax, shoot and improve without any pressure. Most of these kids are loaded up with pretty intense sports and activities through the year, so this gives some something fun to unwind wi...

  • Coyote Boys & Girls Both 7th At Kendra Roeder Invite

    Mike Motz|Apr 27, 2023

    Potter-Dix's Coyote Track and Field teams traveled across the border into Wyoming to compete at the Kendra Roeder Invitational at Pine Bluffs High School. Both teams finished seventh in fields of 11 teams, and held their own against some of the toughest competition in the Panhandle and eastern Wyoming area. The Southeast team took top honors for the boys, followed by Pine Bluffs and Niobrara County. For the girls, Burns came out on top, followed by Sidney and Pine Bluffs. For the Coyote boys tea...

  • Potter-Dix Second At Tri-State Meet

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Apr 20, 2023

    Creek Valley High School hosted the annual Tri-State Meet, and area schools all competed on a sunny day with a warm breeze. Spectators and competitors that did not liberally apply sunscreen found that they had a good sunburn by the beginning of the afternoon. The competition was dominated by the St. Patrick’s team out of North Platte, with the girls squad taking first place with 128 points and the boys squad also taking first with 131.5 points. Paxton finished as runner-up for the girls followed by South Platte. Potter-Dix finished as runner-up...

  • Coyotes Fall To Falls City, Season Ends

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Mar 9, 2023

    Potter-Dix's Coyote boys basketball team had another great year, running up a 19-5 record and going through stretches of the season where they looked unbeatable. There were very few weaknesses on the team, although one proved to be their undoing in the district Final game. The Coyotes have had a tendency to have a "bad quarter," but usually they have the talent and athleticism to overcome that weakness. However, it proved that a team like Falls City Sacred Heart would not let that kind of...

  • Potter-Dix Takes D2-11 Subdistrict Crown

    Mike Motz, The Observer|Mar 2, 2023

    Potter-Dix's Coyote boys basketball team finished their strong season with a loss to Chadron, but had no problem regrouping and breezing through the Subdistricts and coming away with the D2-11 crown. The Coyotes first faced Creek Valley in their first game of the tournament on February 21, and had no problem putting away the Storm, who had struggled for success all season. After opening the game with a strong offensive performance that had them up 23-12 at the end of the first period, the Coyote... Full story

  • C1 Team Chadron Too Much For P-D

    Mike Motz, The OBserver|Feb 23, 2023

    Potter-Dix's Coyote boys basketball team, with a solid 17 wins on the season, moved up in class and faced the C1 Chadron Cardinals on the road Friday, February 17, and fell victim to a bad third quarter The Coyotes knew they had a big challenge going up against the C1 Cardinals with a 10-12 record, and they started the game with a good plan. The Coyotes were able to handle the Cardinals' defense with their sharp passing and athleticism, while Potter-Dix's defense did a great job limiting... Full story

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