ROCK SPRINGS — In their final home game of the regular season, the Rock Springs Tigers won their fifth and final home game of the regular season against the Cheyenne Central Indians 42-18. Rock Springs improves to 7-1 on the season, going undefeated at home in the regular season.
With one week left in the regular season, the red hot Tigers continue full steam ahead as the playoffs approach. The Indians were no exception against Rock Springs’ potent offense and rock solid defense on Friday night.
Here’s tonight’s postgame thoughts.
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Special Teams Make Special Plays
Rock Springs’ special teams have been key in a few of their games and also costly in a few of their games this season.
Over the last few weeks we’ve seen the kick return game really take off for the Tigers, most notably in the game against Cheyenne South. However it was once again an important ingredient for the first possession of the game. After a rough start defensively for Rock Springs, the Tigers kick return team took the ball near midfield, setting the offense up with great field position which they capitalized on.
The punt return team was also on top of it tonight. Cheyenne Central had two fumbled punts in the first half that the Tigers took advantage of. The first was a muffed ball deep in their own territory that Jake Eddy cleaned up with a tackle for a huge loss. The second was another loose ball that got away from the punter that Tommy Faigl pounced on and set up the Tigers for the score from the one-yard line.
While these plays aren’t usually the big ones that stand out on the stat sheet, they were the plays that made a huge difference in the first half and helped Rock Springs pad a 28-6 lead at the half.
Special teams will only matter more in the postseason. It’s good to see the special teams make special plays.
Flack’s Game Ball 🏈
Tonight’s game ball has to go out to Dylan Coburn who could not be stopped in the run game tonight.
Coburn is one of the underrated weapons on this Tigers offense and after tonight’s performance, opposing defenses might start paying a little more attention to him.
On the night, Coburn had a total three touchdowns, scoring more than half of the touchdowns he has had all season.
Tonight it didn’t matter if he was punching it in from a yard out or ripping off a long touchdown run, when he touched the ball good things were bound to happen.
– Flack
Saving the Best for Last
Next week the Tigers go on the road to take on the Cheyenne East Thunderbirds.
No doubt about it, this is a quality playoff team that Rock Springs will face next week, which is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of playoff football before it actually starts.
Anything can happen in the playoffs. But next week will reveal a lot about this Tigers team and who they have become since the first game of the season.
