CASPER – Football is a game of overcoming adversity and fighting as a team in good times and bad. Special team turnovers and struggles in the red zone once again bit the Rock Springs Tigers as they moved to 0-3 after losing to Kelly Walsh 27-13. However, the Tigers fought to the end.
Kelly Walsh did not waste anytime as they took the opening kickoff into Tiger territory at the 35-yard-line. The Rock Springs defense stood strong and were able to stop the Trojans.
All week Kelly Walsh said they were not going to let Nick Blume beat them and they would key on him. When the Tiger offense took the field, it was a bit of a surprise to see Koltin Legerski was under center while an injury to Blume kept him in street clothes.
Runs by Garrett McGaha and Legerski moved the ball into Trojan territory to the 35-yard-line. Legerski moved the ball to the 26 but a bad snapped forced the Tigers back to the 40. Sean Willmore was able to move the ball back to the 30. Facing a fourth down, the Tiger’s offense stayed on the field. Legerski took the snap and rolled out looking for a receiver. A Kelly Walsh pass interference on the play moved the ball to the 14, but more importantly an automatic first down.
McGaha moved the ball to the eight and McLean Eddins finished it of to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
After the strong scoring drive, the rest of the first half was not so good for the Tigers. The Trojans answered to tie the game and Rock Springs fumbled the ensuing kickoff which led to another Casper touchdown. The score gave Kelly Walsh a 14-7 lead at the end of the first.
Neither team’s offense did much of anything in the second quarter. Penalties stopped several drives for both teams. The only scoring opportunity for either team came when Kelly Walsh was able to find the endzone. A flag sat of the field and the Trojans were penalized for an illegal man downfield nullifying the score.
The Tigers set to take the opening kickoff to start the second half. A heads-up play by Angel Hernandez gave the Tigers momentum as he was able to recover the onside pooch kick. The Tigers offense took the ball and similar to last week start a long, time consuming drive. The Tigers were forced to go for it on fourth-down and Legerski was able to find Darek Mattinson for a first down at the Trojan 35. Again Rock Springs was stretched to fourth down and this time, they were able to get a first on a Kelly Walsh facemask call.
Wrylee Padilla was brought in as quarterback while Legerski was split out in the wide receiver spot. Padilla was able to move the ball down to the 16-yard-line but Casper was finally able to stop the Tigers on the third, fourth down attempt.
Kelly Walsh took the ball and ran over everyone, including the referee for their third touchdown of the game.After another stop, the Trojans scampered 45 yards to take a 27-7 lead after the extra point was blocked.
With only a few minutes left, the Tigers kept fighting, With Legerski back under center, he was able to find Anthony Ashe for a big gain. McGaha had several strong runs including plowing his way for a score. The extra point was block. From there, Kelly Walsh ran the clock out for the win.
