(Shoshoni, WY) – As the temperature dropped, so did the ball at Shoshoni Friday Night. The Wranglers hosted the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies and survived the turnover battle for a convincing 32-6 win over the visitors from Big Horn County.
The win lifts Shoshoni to 3-1 in the West 1-A 9-man with a key game at Big Piney to end the regular season that could determine the conference championship. The Wranglers qualified for the playoffs with the win but rival Wind River plays a big role in where Shoshoni will be on the opening Friday of the playoffs in two weeks.
The Cougars play at Greybull on Saturday and then finish the regular season next Thursday, hosting Rocky Mountain.
Shoshoni the game on a short 40 yard, five play drive capped by a 17-yard scoring pass from Braxton Mills to Morgan Neil. Kolbe Brink added the conversion and the Wranglers led 7-0 with just over two minutes off the clock.
Rocky came right back with a scoring strike of their own, this one to Mason Moss from Juaquin Scheeler from 33 yards out. The Grizz couldn’t convert on a scramble play off an errant kick snap and the score moved to 7-6.
On the ensuing kickoff, Shoshoni senior Quinton Clark muffed the kick but as often happens on kick returns, it gave his blockers time to set up and the 6-2 senior ran left, cut back across the field and raced 80 yards for the score. Brink added the kick and Shoshoni led 14-6 halfway through the opening period.
With temperatures dropping into the 30s for the first time this season, and the distant glow of poison gas flaring off at Lysite it was not so gentle reminder that winter is on the doorstep.
The players didn’t need a reminder as they took turns coughing up the ball with Shoshoni fumbling first.
The miscues didn’t hurt the Wranglers but they were decisive for the Grizzlies.
Rocky mounted an 11-play 75-yard drive only to fumble the ball away inside the Red Zone midway through the second period.
The Wranglers turned the ball over on downs on the ensuing drive when a double pass from Mills to Neil to Clark was caught but out of bounds.
The Grizz failed on a fourth down attempt on the next series.
Shoshoni mounted their best drive of the night early in the second quarter when they marched 95 yards on seven plays, setting up a one-yard scoring plunge by Carson Kisling. The drive was highlighted by a 25-yard run by Wiley Hegwar and 35 yard pass from Mills to Clark that set up a first and goal at the three yard line.
A couple more fumble exchanges between the two teams and a pair of errant snaps were the order of the day in the third period.
Once again, Shoshoni’s turnovers didn’t hurt them. Neil dropped back to punt and had to gather in a wild snap before being tackled short of the first down.
A few minutes later Rocky had a similar errant snap, but the Wrangler defense swarmed the Grizzly punter and Clark scooped up the loose ball for a 7-yard scoop and score touchdown.
Rocky fumbled the ensuing kickoff at their 34-yard line and the Wranglers capitalized on a 34-yard pass two plays later from Neil to Clark for the final score of the game.
Shoshoni moved to 5-2 on the season with the win.
SHOSHONI 14 6 12 0 – 32
ROCKY MOUNTAIN 6 0 0 0 – 0
First Quarter
SHO – Morgan Neil 17-pass from Braxton Mills (Kolbe Brink kick) 9:48
RM – Mason Moss 33-from Juaquin Scheeler (pass failed) 6:19
SHO – Quinton Clark 80-kickoff return (Brink kick) 6:05
Second Quarter
SHO – Carson Kisling 1-run (kick failed) 9:56
Third Quarter
SHO – Clark blocked punt return 7-yards (kick failed) 6:20
SHO – Clark 34-pass from Neil (kick failed) 4:03