Extreme heat, injuries and a controversial final play of the game led to a 44-38 loss by the Dubois Rams at Ten Sleep on Saturday.
“We didn’t play well enough to win,” Dubois head coach Dan O’Brien said. “We had a bunch of guys cramping. It was 97 degrees.”
The Rams lost their leading tackler, sophomore Cam Hinkle, on the third drive of the game to a knee injury. Later, Coltn Marble also left the game with a knee injury.
“We don’t know how serious the injuries are yet,” O’Brien said.
Dubois scored on their first two possessions to build a quick 13-0 lead. After Hinkle’s injury, the momentum shifted to the Pioneers.
“We went up then fell apart,” O’Brien said. “Once Hinkle was hurt, the wheels kind of fell off the bus.”
Dubois led 13-12 after the first period but was outscored 20-7 in the second and trailed 32-19 at the half.
Dubois tied the game twice in the final period, the first at 32 and the second at 38.
After Ten Sleep regained the lead 38-32, the Rams tied it again on a 45-yard pass and run from Seth Dvergsdal to Dylan Chamley. They recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Dubois couldn’t move the ball and turned it over on downs.
Ten Sleep took the final game-winning lead with two seconds remaining in the game. The Pioneer receiver apparently fell to the ground at the 30-yard line, got back on his feet and ran into the end zone. O’Brien challenged the call but game officials ruled it a touchdown.
“Chamley almost broke the ensuing kickoff,” O’Brien said. “I’m not taking anything away from Ten Sleep. They played us tough. They were physical, they weren’t fast, but they were well coached.”
Chamley had four touchdowns in the game, including a 65-yard scamper.
The Rams open at home this Friday at 1 p.m. against Hanna Elk Mountain.
“We were down 32-19 to start the fourth,” O’Brien said. “My kids didn’t quit. I give them a lot of credit.”