It was a bare sideline for the Shoshoni Wranglers in their home opener against the Greybull junior varsity Thursday night. Head coach Tony Truempler and assistant coach Jody Good had just two players suited up with them and another on crutches ont he sideline, as the Wranglers played the Buffs in a 9-man football game.
Shoshoni has just a dozen players on the roster this season and Wyatt Trehearne wore his #12 jersey but watched the game with crutches.
Greybull scored quickly on their first offensive play of the game when a fumbled exchange led to Briston Croft picking up the ball and racing 75 yards for a score just 26 seconds into the game. The Buffs scored again later in the period on a 15-yard run by Alan Burgos to lead 12-0 midway through the opening period.
The score stayed that way through the half.
Shoshoni was able to move the ball largely on runs by quarterback Cameron Eder. Greybull keyed on senior tailback Brody Shepard, leaving Eder open to break outside or dart off tackle into the middle.
The Wranglers were driving when Eder was blindsided on a passing play and fumbled the ball on the hit. Greybull senior Layne Lancaster recovered the ball at the Shoshoni 36-yard line.
Greybull opened the second half on a short drive capped by a 27-yard Burgos run.
Eder had a great return on the ensuing kickoff, taking the ball onto the Greybull side of the field.
Shepard broke free on a 37-yard run to the two-yard line, and Eder crashed in from there with 6:08 left in the third period for an 18-6 score.
Greybull came out throwing the ball on their last few possessions. Mason Richardson caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Croft, with Croft adding the conversion run for a 24-6 Greybull lead at 3:48 in the third quarter.
Shoshoni picked up the pace defensively with Fernando Pena laying a nice hit on Croft. The Buffs marched inside the red zone to the 10-yard line, but the Wranglers held.
Eder dropped deep as the Greybull defense closed on him and found Shepard behind them for a well-executed middle-screen. The play moved the ball into Greybull territory as the final period closed to under five minutes of play.
Eder scored on a six-yard run with 1:10 left and hit Garret Thrasher for the conversion and the final 26-14 score.
Greybull recovered the ensuing onside kick and threw the ball a couple more times before the game ended.
SHOSHONI 0 0 6 8 – 14
GREYBULL JV 12 0 14 0 – 26
First Quarter
GRE – Briston Croft 75-run (kick failed) 9:34
GRE – Alan Burgos 15-run (kick failed) 4:42
Third Quarter
GRE – Burgos 27-run 7:34
SHO – Cameron Eder 2-run (pass failed) 6:08
GRE – Mason Richardson 36-pass from Croft (Croft run) 3:48
Fourth Quarter
SHO – Eder 6-run (Garret Thrasher pass from Eder) 1:10