RIVERTON – The Green River Wolves started the march to a state championship on the right foot as the defeated Riverton in a wild opening game.
A long, injury delay in the first half would turn into an offensive shootout in the third quarter. The final five minutes of the third quarter saw both teams put up over 20 points. The wildness would continue into the final quarter but the Wolves were able to hold on late.
It was a slow start by the Green River Wolves as Riverton came out strong in the first quarter. The Wolverines took the opening drive and quickly moved into Green River territory completing a 50-yard pass. The Wolves defense would hold Riverton to a 27-yard field goal.
After being stopped on their opening drive, Green River would go right back on defense. Again, the Wolverines would move into Wolves territory and again, Green River would hold. This time, Riverton would miss a 35-yard field goal attempt.
Heading into the second quarter, the Wolves found a little more offense. Chance Hofer would complete two nice passes to Candon Croft and Drew Wilson, but the offense would stall. Green River would get the ball back on a Chance Anderson interception and would again move the ball. Riverton would force a fourth down and what looked like a botched punt attempt was picked up by Hofer as he scrambled for the first down to keep the drive alive.
The Wolves would take advantage of the heads-up play. Hofer would find Gavin Heiser for 20 yards and then find Taylor Thornton for the first score of the game for the Green River Wolves.
Riverton would go back to work, but James Bunderman would grab an interception to give the ball back to the offense. After a long injury timeout, Green River used good play calling at the right times to move the ball. Green River would move to the eight-yard line and Hofer would take the keeper to the outside and score the second TD of the game for the Wolves.
The Wolves would get the ball back with 1:44 left and Hofer would break an option play for 43 yards to give the Wolves another scoring chance. Candon Croft would follow the Hofer run with one of his own breaking it for 22 yards and the Wolves third score of the game. The extra point would be no good as Green River would take the 20-3 lead at the break.
The Wolves would finish the first half with 137 yards on the ground and 97 through the air. Hofer finished with 58 yards rushing and 97 passing while Croft would have 47 yards receiving and 40 yards on the ground for Green River.
Green River wouldn’t waste any time as a 21-yard run by James Bunderman would set up the first score of the second half for the Wolves. Hofer would find Thornton from 12-yards out to extend the Green River lead early. As the third quarter reached the halfway mark, Riverton finally broke through to cut into the lead. A few minutes later, the Wolverines would strike again to cut the lead to nine, 27-16.
With three minutes left in the third quarter, Hofer would find Croft for 25 yards and two plays later hit Kyle Ivie for a 36-yard score. With 1:45 left in the quarter, Green River extended the lead back to 34-16. Riverton would score in the final minute of the third on a 48-yard pass to again cut into the lead, 34-16.
Bunderman would look to close out the game to start the fourth. He would break a 32-yard run for a touchdown to put the Wolves up 41-23 to start the final period. Green River would get the ball back and start running the ball straight at Riverton. The Wolverines would stop the Wolves and with six minutes left would punch it in again.
Riverton would force another punt and with 3:58 left, would go back to work. They would move the ball down the field and with 3:13 to go, Riverton would score again. The two-point conversion was no good as the Wolves held on to a 41-36 lead.
On the first play, Hofer would find Croft who would break it for 40 yards and move inside the Riverton 15-yard line. Drew Wilson would punch it in from the 10 with 2:50 left and the extra point would give GRHS the 48-36 lead. After a couple of Wolves sacks including one by Gabe Bunderman, Hofer would pick off a Wolverine pass to clinch the win.
Green River finished with 331 rushing yards and 205 yards through the ground. The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense. Bunderman finished with 89 yards on the ground followed by Croft with 83, Wilson with 79 and Hofer with 75. Croft was the leading receiver for the Wolves with 111 yards.
Green River High School
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