Photos/Sandra Johnson

When the football season started two and a half months ago, NCHS had the same dreams as every other team involved in high school football in Wyoming, to earn a berth in the state championship game at the University of Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium. Saturday afternoon on a windy day in Pavilion, the Wind River Cougars ended that dream for the Lusk boys with a 14-2 win in the 1A 11-man quarterfinals.

The tone was set early as Lusk’s Derek Smith mishandled the punt snap just three minutes into the game and Wind River recovered the ball on the Tigers ten yard line. Less than a minute later, Cougar quarterback Trent Jordan connected with Lex Leonhardt for a 13-yard touchdown. The snap on the point-after kick was bobbled and Lusk made the stop, but was down 6-0 early in the contest.

As neither team could get much offense going against solid defenses, turnovers essentially cost the Tigers the game. Jerit DeGering fumbled away the football as the first quarter came to a close but WR couldn’t take advantage of the miscue from inside the Tiger ten.

DeGering coughed up another one just 90 seconds into the second period, but again the Tiger defense came up big, holding the Cougars scoreless. Midway through the second quarter however, Tiger senior co-captain Zach Gill was forced from the game with a knee injury, taking with him the grit and leadership that seniors provide. From this point on, NCHS had a tough time replacing him on both sides of the ball. Wind River had one more trip deep into the Tiger end of the field as halftime approached, but was denied the endzone and the lead was a manageable 6-0 midway through.

On the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Cougar Ryan Thoman raced 28 yards to the Tiger nine yard line. Two minutes later, Jordan scored from less than a yard away. Thoman scored on the two-point conversion and the lead was 14-0.

The Tigers started moving the ball on the ground, picking up three first downs and looking like the team Lusk was accustomed to. Lance Hladky then tossed an errant pass into the hands of Jordan and the drive was stopped near the end of the third.

Hladky threw another interception early in the fourth quarter after the Tigers had marched inside the WR 20. NCHS needed a big play and got it when Smith fell on a loose football deep in Cougar territory. Hladky then appeared to score from a yard out but was ruled down inches from the goal line. On the next play, another Hladky sneak, the ball somehow came loose and was awarded to Wind River. Lusk got on the scoreboard as the defense stuffed Thoman in the endzone for a safety.

Lusk was stopped on fourth down and short yardage with just over six minutes remaining to halt a scoring opportunity and Hladky was intercepted three minutes later to stop another chance. WR was able to run out the clock and end the Tigers season with a 6-3 record. The Cougars now travel to Southeast Friday night to face the three-time defending state champion Cyclones, with a trip to Laramie on the line. Cokeville defeated Pine Bluffs and Lingle-Ft. Laramie handled Rocky Mountain to set up the other semifinal game in Cokeville Friday night.

Despite the loss, Tiger head coach Matt VandeBossche wouldn’t let his kids hang their heads, “Sure, we would have liked to win and keep playing, but overall I’m very pleased with the season we had. These kids have nothing to be ashamed about.”

NCHS stats: Passing- Hladky 3 comp/11 atts, 39 yds, 3 INT. Rushing- DeGering 21 atts/71 yds, Smith 8/30, Hladky 10/5, Ace Thurston 3/6. Receiving- Trent Johnson 1 catch/23 yds, Smith 1/8, DeGering 1/8. Defensive points- Thurston 21, Smith 17, Jordan Reed 17, Johnson 13, Andrew Niziol 13, Hladky 9, Beau Greenough 8, Weldon Tschacher 7, Taylor Kinchen 7, Gill 6, Thomas Mason 6, Ryan Prather 5, DeGering 5, Jake Spivey 3, Harley Cushman 2, John Boussu 1.

Team stats: NCHS- Passing 3 comp/11 atts 39 yds, Rushing 41 atts/121 yds, Receiving 3 catches/39 yds, First downs 9, 1 penalty/10 yds.

WR: Passing 6/17 81 yds, Rushing 43/225, Receiving 6/81, First downs 12, 5 penalties/25 yds.

For the complete article see the 11-04-2009 issue.

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