Bobcats open with big win

Hot Springs County High School Football got their 2017 season off to a positive start Friday night, with a 48-0 victory against Shoshoni.

Coach Matt McPhie said, "Overall, I felt the boys played aggressive, physical football. We've been preparing for Shoshoni since early last spring. Our mindset is and will always be 'one game at a time' and we are pleased with the results from week one.

"I felt like our players were well prepared for the opponent on both sides of the ball and that's a testament to the willingness of these young men to be coach-able and disciplined. We had some great individual efforts during the game Friday night. It's always nice to recognize big plays and yardage and touchdowns, but we understand as a team, if all 11 players don't do their job, we won't have that individual success."

Among the notable performances at the game, McPhie said Jeffry VanAntwerp recorded 17 tackles on the defensive side of the ball. "JV, as we like to call him, is like an angry pitbull in an antique store."

Noah Schwalbe was in on 12 tackles and recorded 3 tackles for loss.

"Overall defensively," McPhie said, "we played sound downhill, physical football." Other players who played well on defense include Milton Peden, Jon Harvey and Riley Shaffer.

"Offensively we didn't play to our potential," McPhie said. "We have some things to clean up, but overall improvement from zero week to week one was good. We'll get some things cleaned up and keep chopping."

Notable offensive performances from the game include Chandler Maddock's touchdown. McPhie noted Maddock "played well and was a difference maker both in the run game and blocking."

Logan Cole had 198 yards of offense - 178 in rushing, 20 in receiving - and also scored three touchdowns. Cullen Becher also scored a touchdown, and McPhie said Becher "played well at QB, led the team and is continuing to grow as an impressive football player and leader."

Becher also completed seven of 10 passes for 107 yards.

Sophomore Jarron Mortimore also caught his first varsity touchdown and played well at tight end, McPhie said. Kolby George also caught a touchdown to add to the Bobcats' victory.

This week the boys will take on Greybull, again at home. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Friday. McPhie said of Greybull, "They are a very good football team. We need great preparation this week from our boys and I expect to have that."

Thermopolis Middle School also won 42-0 in their Friday game against Shoshoni. They will play at Lander this Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m.