GILLETTE — The No. 5-ranked Rock Springs Tigers may have fallen 35-3 to the No. 4 Campbell County Camels on Friday night, but in only their third game under new head coach Kasey Koepplin, the Tigers showed potential against a highly-ranked opponent. Despite the score, Rock Springs moved the ball well on the ground and displayed moments of solid defense.
Campbell County used special teams to build early momentum, blocking a punt late in the first quarter, which they returned for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. The Camels then blocked a second punt early in the second quarter, setting up their offense on the Tigers’ 29-yard line. A quick touchdown pass extended the lead to 14-0.
Rock Springs responded with a resilient drive in the second quarter, capped off by senior kicker Michael Rubich’s 42-yard field goal with 5:25 left, trimming the deficit to 14-3. Rubich’s kick showcased his leg strength and gave the Tigers a spark before halftime, even though the Camels would add another score to make it 21-3 at the break.
Check out the long field goal here.
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The Tigers showed improvement in the second half, particularly on defense, as they limited Campbell County to just one score in the third quarter. The Camels opened the half with a seven-minute drive but the Tigers tightened up afterward, showing their ability to adjust against a tough opponent.
Offensively, Rock Springs continued to find success on the ground. They finished with 212 rushing yards, led by senior Sam Thornhill, who had a strong performance with 23 carries for 101 yards. Boston James also impressed, adding 97 yards on 9 carries, while Jernee Padilla contributed 37 yards on 5 carries. The running game remained a bright spot, demonstrating the Tigers’ ability to move the ball even against a stout Campbell County defense.
Defensively, the Tigers forced an interception, though they lost the ball on the return. They held the Camels to 115 rushing yards and 125 passing yards, a solid performance against a balanced Campbell County attack.
With the loss, Rock Springs falls to 1-2 on the season but remains positive about the progress they’re making. Campbell County improves to 3-0. The Tigers will now turn their attention to next week, where they look to bounce back and build on the positive strides they’ve made under Coach Koepplin’s leadership.
