ROCK SPRINGS — It only took the opening quarter of the game to determine the winner between the No.1 Rock Springs Tigers and visiting Cheyenne South Bison on Friday night.
Rock Springs put up 49 points in the first quarter, completely shutting down the Bison and any dreams they had of upsetting the best team in 4A. The impressive start to the game padded what eventually ended up being a 65-0 victory for the Tigers who improved to 6-1 on the year.
Here’s tonight’s postgame thoughts.
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Three Things We Learned Tonight
Blowout games like the one tonight we saw tonight present a lopsided victory that hide the details of what actually happened. Simply put, it’s hard to write about these games. However tonight I learned three things about this team that I hope to share with you.
1. This team has sportsmanship
My number one takeaway tonight was the sportsmanship that the Rock Springs Tigers showed tonight. Forget about the scoreboard. It’s easy to skip sportsmanship in a blowout game. It’s easy to forget about the other team when you’re busy celebrating a big play.
Rock Springs celebrated, but they didn’t allow it to outshine their opportunity to show sportsmanship.
In the first quarter, the Tigers put up 49 points. Cheyenne South did not play well. But time after time I saw Cadon Shaklee picking up the opposing player he just tackled. One play in particular was a huge sack on a blitz up the middle by Shaklee. He crushed the quarterback. But he also extended a hand afterwards and picked him up.
You can’t coach that.
Yes the good teams win, and they win big against opponents like the Bison. But the best teams win the right way.
2. The Tigers most important games are ahead, not behind
The last two weeks, the Rock Springs starting players have played three quarters of football. That’s a lot of reps that they have missed out on. That can be a blessing and curse depending on how you see it. On one hand you’re getting to rest and keep players healthy, but on the other hand you worry about keeping the momentum you have with your starting core sitting out so much.
Tonight the Tigers starters played one quarter. Every rep was important tonight. Going into the final two games of the season, Rock Springs will face Cheyenne Central and Cheyenne East. There’s still something to play for the next two weeks and the most important games are ahead.
We’ll see how the Tigers respond after having a long two weeks of rest. I suspect it will have a positive outcome based on how this team has responded to other situations this season.
3. RSHS school spirit continues to shine
Since the opening game of the season I think we’ve all been happy to see school spirit return and remain. This football team is at the center of it all.
People want to be a part of something and when the Tigers win, it feels like we all win. Tonight’s homecoming game was a great reminder of what it means to have fun, celebrate where you’re from and make memories.
Flack’s Game Ball ?
I’m doing something a little out of the ordinary for tonight’s game ball, but it’s because I respect the Cheyenne South Bison.
That’s right, tonight’s game ball is going out to the team that Rock Springs blew out 65-0. But I have good reasoning.
For one, if you know anything about the Cheyenne South football program, it’s that the school is always going to struggle under current policies. It just will. They are at an unfair advantage due to students having the option to basically choose what school they attend.
Tonight’s game was not fun. I’ve been in their situation before. It makes you question why you put all the time and effort into the sport.
Losing sucks. Period.
According to Tigers head coach Mark Lenhardt, Cheyenne South had a good five or six starters out of the game due to COVID-19. They could have easily forfeited the game. But the Bison wanted to play, and they made the trip despite the circumstances. Cheyenne South had some sophomores and freshmen playing in the game. The playing field was obviously favored one way, but the Cheyenne kids wanted to play.
I tip my hat to the Cheyenne South football program. The players, the coaches and the parents that traveled for the game. That takes some guts. It takes some humility. And it takes a pure love for the game of football.
It might not have been fun, but it was an effort that is game ball worthy.
– Flack
