What was predicted to be a close game turned into a near blowout as Riverton stepped on the gas in the opening half en route to a 38-14 win over Fremont County rival Lander.
Riverton junior running back and kicker Hunter Saltsgaver had a highlight reel effort in the opening half, scoring four touchdowns and adding a 21-yard field goal as the Wolverines blew open the game with a 31-0 lead at the intermission.
It didn’t start well for Riverton as they muffed the opening kickoff with Tiger senior Zane Espinosa recovering the ball at the Wolverine 22-yard line.
Riverton’s defense is vastly improved this season, and they displayed it on the ensuing series, holding the Tigers to just two yards on the next three plays.
Lander lined up for a 37-yard field goal by Caleb Andrews but Clay Sheets broke through to block the kick and Kaden Liebrecht recovered it at the 32.
The Wolverines established a methodical nine-play, 68-yard drive to open the scoring. The series was highlighted by a 35-yard gain by Payton Larsen on an inside reverse that moved the ball inside the red zone.
Saltsgaver took it from there, scoring on a seven-yard scamper around the end.
The Wolverine defense forced a three-and-out by the Tigers to set up another long drive, this one covering 64 yards in nine plays.
The Wolverines moved to the two-yard line on a pair of back-to-back first down runs by Saltsgaver and the junior running back took it in from there with 1:46 remaining in the opening period.
On the first play of the ensuing series, the Tigers fumbled at the Lander 24 and Riverton recovered.
On the second play of the short drive, Blake Gantenbein hit Saltsgaver in stride for a 24-yard touchdown pass and the stunned Tigers trailed 21-0 with 1:31 left in the first.
Another ineffective series by Lander led to the biggest play of the game when Saltsgaver broke into the open on a 55-yard scamper. He eluded several Lander tackles, cut and spun into the open and it was off to the races for a 28-0 Wolverine lead.
The Tigers fumbled again with Dane Cox recovering at the 43 late in the half. Riverton picked up a first and goal at the two-yard line but the Lander defense stiffened.
The Tigers stopped Gantenbein and Saltsgaver on three straight runs, forcing a 21-yard field goal by Saltsgaver.
The game featured hard hitting, especially in the trenches on the line of scrimmage. Riverton’s line of Daniel Clawson, Tyree Harris-Aragon, Kayden Liebrecht, Ryan Cox, Carlyle Minner and Aaron Gonzalez locked up repeatedly with Tiger defensive linemen Kaleb Hamilton, Django Ferguson and Gavin Romer at the point of attack.
The Wolverines added another score in the third on a four-yard run by Jackson Larsen with Saltsgaver’s kick lifting the Wolverines to a 38-0 lead and leading the crowd wondering if a “Mercy Rule” running-clock was imminent.
Tiger quarterback Paxon Hollingshead was stalwart in the pocket, taking repeated big hits from the Wolverine defensive front. Perhaps the biggest hit he took came from Aragon-Harris with 3:31 left in the third when he was blindsided on a sack.
Baker and Hollingshead took the brunt of the Wolverine hits and began to gain yardage as the fourth quarter loomed.
Cody West picked up yardage as well, leading to a one-yard Hollingshead plunge with 11:52 left in the game that put the Tigers on the board. Caleb Andrews hit the point after kick and Lander trailed 38-7.
The Tigers tallied a late touchdown on a one-yard Baker run to finish the scoring.
Riverton is on the road for the remainder of the regular season with a game at Torrington next Friday that should determine the East 3-A Conference champion.
Lander hosts Rawlins next Friday.
RIVERTON 21 10 7 0 – 38
LANDER 0 0 0 14 – 14
First Quarter
RIV – Hunter Saltsgaver 7-run (Saltsgaver kick) 5:57
RIV – Saltsgaver 2-run (Saltsgaver kick) 1:46
RIV – Saltsgaver 24-pass from Blake Gantenbein (Saltsgaver kick) 1:31
Second Quarter
RIV – Saltsgaver 55-run (Saltsgaver kick) 11:07
RIV – Saltsgaver 21-field goal – 1:25
Third Quarter
RIV – Jackson Larsen 4-run (Saltsgaver kick) 6:15
Fourth Quarter
LAN – Paxon Hollingshead 1-run (Caleb Andrews kick) 11:52
LAN – Brayden Baker 1-run (Andrews kick) 1:18