The Cody Broncs’ offense has been described as NASCAR football. They run a lot of plays in very little time with their no huddle offense, an offense that wears down a defense and prevents substitution.
They looked more like dragsters at times than NASCAR drivers with big plays that slashed and dashed the Riverton Wolverine defense in a 55-38 shootout. The loss drops the Wolverines to 1-1 on the season while the Broncs are 2-0.
Riverton is one of the best teams in Class 3-A this season, but Cody and their West Conference rival Star Valley play in an echelon all their own.
It didn’t take the Broncs long to find the end zone. On their first play from scrimmage, Cannon Grant broke an 81-yard run just 18 seconds into the contest. Kayden Liebrecht blocked the conversion kid.
Riverton tied the game at 6-6 on a two-yard Hunter Saltsgaver run the capped a long drive. Saltsgaver’s helmet came off and he couldn’t kick, so the Wolverines went for two and failed.
Once again, on the first play from scrimmage Cody scored. This time on a 77-yard run by Cash McFadden.
Trailing 14-6, the Wolverines mounted another long drive but stalled at the 12-yard line. Saltsgaver kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the margin to 14-9.
Cody took two plays this time before McFadden scored on a 75-yard run. The Broncs added two more rushing touchdowns, but Riverton tallied a pair through the air.
The first, a 16-yard touchdown from Blake Gantenbein to Dane Cox and the second a 26-yards strike from Gantenbein to Clay Sheets.
McFadden had ample time on all but one passing play behind excellent blocking from his offensive line.
The Broncs scored twice in the third on short runs to double the score at 48-24.
Riverton answered late with a one-yard plunge by Saltsgaver and an eight-yard run by Brayden Martin, but Cody answered with a rushing touchdown for the final points of the game.
The Wolverines are on the road for a while. They travel to Evanston, Green River and Douglas before returning home on October 3 against Buffalo.
RIVERTON 6 18 0 14 – 38
CODY 14 20 14 7 – 55
First Quarter
COD – Cannon Grant 81-run (kick failed) 11:42
RIV – Hunter Saltsgaver 2-run (run failed) 8:42
COD – Cash McFadden 77-run (Trent Bower pass from McFadden) 8:31
Second Quarter
RIV – Saltsgaver 29-field goal – 10:18
COD- McFadden 75-run (9:46)
RIV – Dane Cox 16-pass from Blake Gantenbein (Pehton Larson from Gantenbein) 6:06
COD – Marko Scorek 6-run (Jacob Talich kick) 3:56
COD – Landon Schultz 8-run (Talich kick) 1:23
RIV – Clay Sheets 26-pass from Gantenbein (Saltsgaver kick) :26
Third Quarter
COD – Grant 55-run (Talich kick) 9:52
COD – Schultz 8-run (Talich kick) 2:22
Fourth Quarter
RIV – Saltsgaver 1-run (Saltsgaver kick) – 9:48
COD – Scorek 4-run (Talich kick) 9:08
RIV – Brayden Martin 8-run (Saltsgaver kick) 4:58