(Pavillion, WY) – In the course of a 48-minute game with a final score of 52-8, it’s hard to pick out one play that turns the contest, but a big one came on a would-be, game-tying drive Thursday Night in Pavillion. The Cougars trailed Big Piney 16-8 early in the second period and were driving towards the south goal line.
Wind River’s offense this season is power running between the tackles with toss sweeps to the outside. It is effective when the Cougars hang onto the ball and if they don’t commit any penalties. A penalty makes it difficult to pick up a first down with this style of offense.
Holden Yeates was picking up good gains on toss sweeps to the right with Bubba Rushing pounding inside, running over Puncher defenders.
Wind River scored in the opening period on a well-played 11-play drive that ended in an eight-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Walker to Kai Alatini. They were on a similar long drive, this one at 11 plays and inside the 10-yard line, when a holding call brought the ball back 10 yards. Four plays later, Walker hit Rushing with a flair pass, but he was tackled at the four, ending the drive.
The wind went out of the Cougar’s sails after that stalled drive, and Big Piney turned the game into a track meet.
Zavier Clifford broke a 59-yard run for a quick score earlier to break the 8-8 tie and added two more short touchdowns in the second period on runs of one and three yards. These two short scoring runs were set up by long runs from Clifford, Cale Dauwen, and quarterback Finley Strong.
Wind River mounted another good drive to open the third period, marching to the Big Piney 36 on 12 plays before fumbling the ball away.
A 74-yard breakaway run by Dauwen in the third period put the game away for good with the Punchers leading 38-8.
Big Piney scored two more times, once on a 12-yard run by Geraldo Galvan and the final score on a 29-yard pass from Strong to Clifford.
It could have been much worse on the scoreboard. Clifford had two scoring runs of 55 and 64 yards and a 74-yard punt return for another touchdown called back on penalties.
The Cougars are home next Thursday against second-ranked, unbeaten, conference-leading Greybull, then finish the season the following week at Rocky Mountain.
WIND RIVER 8 0 0 0 – 8
BIG PINEY 16 14 15 7 – 52
First Quarter
BP – Cale Dauwen 44-run (Zavier Clifford run) 9:54
WR – Kai Alatini 8-pass from Tanner Walker (Walker run) 2:24
BP – Clifford 59-run (Finley Strong run) 1:59
Second Quarter
BP – Clifford 1-run (Dauwen run) 4:57
BP – Clifford 3-run (run failed) :13
Third Quarter
BP – Dauwen 74-run (Clifford run) 4:34
BP – Geraldo Galvan 12-run (Landon Negrete kick) 1:47
Fourth Quarter
BP – Clifford 29-pass from Strong (Negrete kick) 9:23