SWEETWATER COUNTY — Both Rock Springs and Green River ran into two of the state’s toughest opponents Friday night, and both games ended with running clocks.
Rock Springs fell 49-3 to Cheyenne East, while Green River lost 56-7 to Cody. Both opponents were last year’s state runner-ups in their respective classifications, East in 4A and Cody in 3A, and each entered the week with just one loss on the season, both coming against the defending state champions Sheridan and Star Valley, respectively. To add to the pot, both Sheridan and Star Valley are undefeated this year.
Despite the lopsided final scores, both Sweetwater County teams showed moments of grit against programs that have dominated Wyoming high school football in recent years. Each game offered valuable lessons and a clear picture of where Rock Springs and Green River stand as the regular season comes to a close next week, one team still fighting for its playoff life, and the other preparing for its first postseason appearance in seven years.
Here’s how each matchup unfolded Friday night.
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Rock Springs vs. Cheyenne East
Rock Springs traveled east looking to keep their playoff hopes alive and build on the momentum from their near-upset of Sheridan the week before. Instead, a dominant first half from the Thunderbirds put the Tigers in an early hole they couldn’t climb out of.
Rock Springs opened the game with possession and moved the chains on a fourth-down conversion, but a fumble near midfield set up East’s first scoring drive. The Thunderbirds capitalized quickly with a five-play march capped off by a 4-yard touchdown run from Keyshawn Brown to go ahead 7-0 with 7:35 left in the first quarter.
East extended the lead before the end of the first when Wyatt Sellnow ran in an 8-yard score to make it 14-0.
Rock Springs responded early in the second quarter, stringing together their best drive of the night. After converting another fourth down on a fullback dive by Jernee Padilla, the Tigers turned to freshman kicker Carter Price, who drilled a 30-yard field goal, the first of his varsity career, to make it 14-3 with 8:56 left in the half.
That would be the Tigers’ only points.
Cheyenne East’s offense took over from there. Quarterback Kaenen Zowada found Tyree McCord for a 65-yard touchdown pass on the next drive, then connected with Trace Eldridge on a 25-yard score before halftime. Sellnow added another rushing touchdown as East built a 35-3 lead by the break.
The second half opened with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Aydan Riccardo to make it 42-3, and Brown added his second rushing score late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 49-3.
Rock Springs senior Alex Meza made a highlight play in the fourth quarter, picking off a pass in the red zone to stop another East scoring chance.
With the loss, Rock Springs (1-7) faces a simple scenario next week: win and in. The Tigers host Kelly Walsh in their final home game of the season, with the winner clinching the No. 8 seed in the 4A playoffs and the loser being eliminated.
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Green River vs. Cody
Over in Green River’s conference, the Wolves ran into another powerhouse. Cody, the defending 3A state runner-up, showed why they’re once again among the favorites with a 56-7 win on Friday night.
The Broncs jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening six minutes, scoring first on a 7-yard run from Kannon Grant and then on a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cache McFadden to Nathaniel Pryor.
After trading turnovers late in the quarter, Cody blew the game open in the second. McFadden scrambled for a 28-yard touchdown early in the period, Grant added his second score of the game from 28 yards out, and Carson Smith tacked on a 14-yard touchdown run to make it 35-0. McFadden then hit Griffin McCarten on a 34-yard strike with 19 seconds left in the half to give Cody a 42-0 halftime lead.
Grant’s third touchdown, a 75-yard run to open the third quarter, triggered the running clock at 49-0. Smith later added another score from 14 yards out to make it 56-0 before Green River finally found the end zone in the fourth.
Quarterback Max Hintz connected with Trevor Johnson for a 6-yard touchdown to get the Wolves on the board and avoid the shutout.
Green River (3-5) remains locked into the No. 4 seed in the 3A West regardless of next week’s outcome, while Cody (7-1) remains in the hunt for the two seed. The Wolves will close out the regular season at home against top-ranked Star Valley, who has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference.
