(Riverton, WY) – It wasn’t as easy as many fans thought, but then again, it’s the playoffs and teams usually bring their best. Green River did with an outstanding effort in their secondary.
The Wolves had solid play throughout the game at the corners and safeties. It didn’t matter in the end, as Riverton’s offensive and defensive lines dominated the line of scrimmage, and the Wolverines are in the Class 3-A semi-finals against Cody after a 31-13 win on a cold, still Friday night at home.
Green River has an advantage that other teams playing the Wolverines don’t have in head coach Blaine Christensen. Christensen spent many years as an assistant to Riverton head coach Mark Lenhardt.
“That’s what happens when you spend four years in a meeting room with a guy,” Lenhardt said.
Green River looked to negate Riverton’s passing game, and Riverton’s goal was to dominate the line of scrimmage and run the ball.
“They mixed up their coverages, they played some man coverage, they did a great job of breaking up some long passes,” Lenhardt said. “Our plan was to come in and run the ball on them.”
That plan worked with the Wolverines rushing for four touchdowns, two by Hunter Saltsgaver and one each from Blake Gantenbein and Brayden Martin. Saltsgaver added to his all-time Riverton rushing record with 240 more yards.
The Wolverines were physical. A good example came in the second period after Martin scored on a four-yard run to lift Riverton to a 14-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, one of the few where Saltsgaver didn’t hit the end zone. Cameron Vincent delivered a show-stopper of a solo tackle, dropping the Green River return man with a resounding thud.
Lenhardt went to the trick play late in the opening half with Gage Treber taking a double-reverse handoff, then setting up to pass. Payton Larson broke into the open briefly, but the Green River corner kept his position.
“We had him open, the kid made a great play,” Lenhardt said. “We were hoping to catch them in cover 3.”
Riverton threatened late in the half, but stellar play in the secondary ended the drive with 24 seconds left in the third period when Irie Kuball intercepted Gantenbein at the Wolves’ 29.
Riverton continued to dominate the line of scrimmage, adding another score in the third period on a four-yard Saltsgaver run. His ensuing conversion kick lifted the Wolverines to a 21-0 lead.
Lenhardt had praise for his offensive line.
“They did a good job, they have all year, with some of the injuries we’ve had, we’ve had to change course,” Lenhardt said.
In quick succession late in the third period, the Wolves made it interesting.
Trevor Johnson capped a short Green River drive on a 16-yard run. They missed the conversion, but Riverton was flagged for running into the kicker. With 4:49 in the third, Green River elected for the two-point conversion. It was blocked by Gage Treber, just one of many tremendous plays on defense by Treber.
Kayden Liebrecht, Treber, Paxton Yeates, and Martin all played solid defense at the point of attack. Librecht and Yeates both blocked passes as well.
“All four of those guys played really, really well,” Lenhardt said. “Clay Sheets played well on Dax Taylor; he’s one of the best receivers in 3-A. He was able to limit him, which was huge. What he did this year with Taylor and McFadden, that’s why we won.”
Maddux Hintz read a middle screen intended for Saltsgaver perfectly, intercepting Gantenbein’s pass at the Riverton 21.
The Wolves drove it in from there with the help of a pass interference penalty in the end zone.
Hintz scored on a one-yard plunge and Braxton Doak’s kick cut the margin to just eight points.
“Their D-line sat on the screen. That happens sometimes,” Lenhardt said. “When they cut it to one score, we were able to respond and make it to a two-score game.”
“I’m very proud of this team, I think we’ve gotten a lot out of this team,” Lenhardt said. “No matter what adversity we’ve faced, we’ve seemed to find a way.”
They’ll have to find a way this Friday when they face the Cody Broncs in the semi-finals. Cody has the only win over the Wolverines so far this season.
RIVERTON 7 7 7 10 – 31
GREEN RIVER 0 0 13 0 – 13
First Quarter
RIV – Blake Gantenbein 9-run (Hunter Saltsgaver kick) 5:18
Second Quarter
RIV – Brayden Martin 4-run (Saltsgaver kick) 11:54
Third Quarter
RIV – Saltsgaver 4-run (Saltsgaver kick) 6:47
GR – Trevor Johnson 16-run (pass failed) 4:49
GR – Maddux Hintz 1-run (Braxton Doak kick) 3:26
Fourth Quarter
RIV – Saltsgaver 21-field goal 9:52
RIV – Saltsgaver 25-run (Saltsgaver kick) 6:43