JACKSON – They were not intimidated the first time, and on Friday the Green River Wolves got it done. They used a big first half and tough defense to pull the biggest upset of the 2015 season.
It would be the Wolves defense and turnovers that made the difference as they were able to beat the undefeated and top-ranked 3A Jackson Broncs, 24-15. Green River forced four turnovers on the night, including three interceptions, while the Wolves offense was clean.
With the win, the Wolves will be headed to War Memorial Stadium next weekend with a 3A crown on the line. It is the first time since 2008 Green River will play for a state championship. The Wolves’ last championship came in 2004.
Green River took a 21-7 lead at the half and extended it to 24-7 going into the fourth. Jacob Olsen, Blake Waite and Brendan Hopkins would lay big hits on Jackson’s offense and fourth-quarter interceptions by Chance Hofer and Chance Anderson kept Jackson down.
With the ball and two minutes left in the game, Green River looked in control. With 1:37 left in the game, the Wolves dropped back to punt. Jackson blocked it and took it in for the score. With the two-point conversion, the Broncs were back within nine.
On the onside kick, Candon Croft recovered the ball and secured the Wolves win.
Defense was the name of the game as the Wolves hit Jackson running back Theo Dawson hard every time he touched the ball. After going for 489 yards in the first round, the Wolves would hold Dawson to only 140 yards on Friday night. Almost half of Dawson’s yards came on a 66-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter. As a team, the Wolves held Jackson to 165 rushing and 266 total yards.
The Green River offense would finish with 153 yards on the ground and 83 through the air for a total of 236 on the night. Over seven receivers caught passes on the night for the Wolves. Tyler Vendetti finished with 56 yards on the ground while the Wolves were led by Croft who finished with 72 yards.
In was a 40-yard Croft run on the Wolves first drive of the game that set up the first score. Vendetti finished the drive from 17-yards out, giving Green River the early lead. The Wolves first score was quickly answered by Dawson’s 66-yard touchdown run.
While Vendetti is usually making the offense go, it was his first-half defense that would be the difference. He had a pick six in the second quarter and recovered a fumble which led to the third, first-half score for the Wolves.
With time running out in the second quarter, the Wolves lined up for a field goal. The fake was on as Cole White tossed it to Chance Hofer for the touchdown. The trickery gave the Wolves a 21-7 lead at the break.
Hofer scored the only points in the third quarter on a 37-yard field goal.
