Guest Posts on County 10 are provided by contributors and the opinions, thoughts, and comments within are their own and may not necessarily reflect those of County 10.
It was a tough first season for the Riverton Wolverines in the autumn of 1922. Over a century has passed since the “Big Orange” played their first football game. Riverton’s colors were orange and black until 1944, when they switched to red and white.
The change came after playing Rock Springs, Natrona County, Worland, and Powell, all of whom were, and remain so today, orange and white.
Riverton was pounded 60-0 by Lander on Saturday, October 21, on the ball field in present-day City Park.
They put up a better effort the following week in Lander but still lost 47-0. In their final game of the season, they traveled to Casper, where the Natrona County Junior Varsity rolled over Riverton 68-0.
It’s not exactly an ideal season when you’re outscored 175-0 by your opponents, but football, especially high school-level football, was relatively new in Wyoming.
Football was a different game in 1922. The forward pass was only 16 years old, and the outlawing of handles sewn to pants for interlocked offense had only been illegal for slightly over a decade. The run game still dominated play. When a team scored via a pass, it made the lead paragraph on the following week’s sports page.
Even place kicking was different. There were no holders or place kicks; all field goals and point-after kicks came on drop kicks. Even the ball was different. The 1920s football was thicker, less pointed and resembled a rugby ball more than the modern sleek ball that glides so easily through the air.
Kicking the ball was much easier, throwing it was more of a challenge.
That Saturday afternoon 104 years ago in Riverton had fans lining the field. There were no bleachers. All the fans crowded together along the sidelines and end zone, stood on top of cars and trucks, or climbed trees and power poles in City Park to get a glimpse of the game.
The Wolverines were coached by Richard “Tripp” Triplett. It was his only season as Riverton head coach. Ernest Marshall took over in 1923 and won the school’s first game, a 32-0 shutout of Lander one day short of the first anniversary of the opening game between the two schools.
On paper, Lander was more established, playing their first game in 1908, a 6-6 tie in Casper with Natrona High School.
They didn’t field a team in 1909 and went 1-2-1 in 1910 under William Kemp. Kemp’s Tigers split with Fort Washakie, winning 6-0 and losing 5-0, then tied Natrona 0-0 before finishing the season with a 6-0 win in Lander over Casper.
For the next dozen years, they didn’t field a team. Roy Larsen took the helm in 1922 and swept the Wolverines to finish the season 2-0.
The starters on October 21, 1922, were listed only by last name and position.
Riverton Lander
Right End: Lulkhart Beaton
Right Tackle: Conan Hoopes
Right Guard: Davison Peyton
Center: Finch C. Case
Left Guard: Freeman D. Potter
Left Tackle: Ratcliff Beckwith
Left End: Metstop Morgan
Quarterback: McGarity Findlay
Right Halfback: Hart – Potter
Left Halfback: Morton Schwoob
Fullback: Luthy Coleman
The Riverton Review carried the score and that was it. The Lander Evening Post was much more descriptive, with a front-page story detailing the entire game with complete play-by-play. Though Riverton was just 16 years old, the rivalry between the Wolverines and Tigers was just waiting for a chance to emerge.
Lander had a sizeable height and weight advantage. In the era of run-dominated football, that was the big difference in the game.
Lander Evening Post – Monday October 23, 1922
“Lander pushed over nine touchdowns through end-runs, off-tackle plays and fake formations. The Riverton line was a factor to be reckoned with and center smashes netted small gains, so that Lander’s style of play was quickly changed to end-runs and open football. The local team gained at will and were on the offensive most of the game.
Riverton made costly fumbles and seemed to lack a knowledge of the game which kept them bewildered. Schwoob and Findlay were the most reliable ground gainers for the Lander eleven, aided by good interference, and the whole team played a good brand of football.
McGarity, Riverton quarterback was outstanding performer for Riverton, and unfortunately for them his condition made necessary his removal in the middle of the game.”
The Tigers scored first on a 28-yard run around right end by Schwoob. Potter split the uprights on the ensuing dropkick and Lander led 7-0.
Riverton kept the ball between the tackles, advancing to the Lander 25-yard line but fumbled. It was the only time the Wolverines would cross midfield in the entire game.
In the second period, quarterback Findlay kept the ball twice for back-to-back scores that lifted the Tigers to a 19-0 lead at the half.
The second half was all Lander as the Tigers rolled up 41 unanswered points to blow open the game.
They scored on a 50-yard Findlay run and a pass from Findlay to Beaton, another 50-yard scoring play. Findlay rounded out his time on the field with a final scoring run of 40 yards.
The Tiger quarterback scored four times on the ground and once through the air.
Lander substituted heavily in the final period, with starting right halfback Potter scoring twice on runs of three and 25 yards behind reserve linemen.
Munson added the final points of the game on a 10-yard scoop-and-score return of a muffed punt by the Wolverines for the 60-0 score.
Today, a muffed punt recovery is a dead ball, but rules were much different a century ago. Cut blocks, blindside blocks, and cross-body blocks were all legal. So was facemasking, except there were no facemasks, just leather helmets with leather belts to secure them under a player’s chin.
McGarity was injured in the third period, and a backup took the quarterback spot for Riverton.
He returned the following week, but the Tigers still dominated the game.
It was the beginning of one of the greatest football rivalries in all of Wyoming high school football.
The fields have changed. The players in this game have all passed on, but the intensity of a Friday night tilt between the Wolverines and Tigers stands the test of time.
Lander 7 12 21 20 -60
Riverton 0 0 0 0 – 0
First Quarter:
Lander — Schwoob 28-run (Potter kick)
Second Quarter:
Lander — Findlay 9-yard run (kick failed)
Lander — Findlay 17-yard run (kick failed)
Third Quarter:
Lander — Findlay 50-yard run (Findlay kick)
Lander — Beaton 50-yard pass from Findlay (Findlay kick)
Lander — Findlay 40-yard run (Findlay kick)
Fourth Quarter:
Lander — Potter 3-yard run (kick failed)
Lander — Potter 25-yard run (Schwoob kick)
Lander — Munson 10-yard fumble return (Potter kick)