Bobcats closing the gap

Though last Friday’s football game against Mountain View wound up with a 31-8 loss for the Bobcats, Coach Matthew McPhie is proud of the young men and the effort they put in against the defending state champ team. McPhie pointed out that just a few years back Thermopolis had a 45-0 loss against Mountain View, so they are definitely improving.

The bobcats did well in the first half, McPhie said, keeping it a close, 7-2 game, though a costly turnover on the five-yard line kept them from taking the lead at halftime.

Defensively, he commended Jarron Mortimore for forcing the safety to bring them two points, as well as the efforts of middle linebacker Jeffery VanAntwerp. Offensively the team ran the ball well, and Jon Harvey made a 50-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 21-8.

This really was a tough road trip and a tough game, McPhie said, but the boys came out of it feeling they’ve turned a corner because they know they can play against the tougher team and that they still have things to work on.

McPhie is also excited the Bobcats have been able to play three of their first four games against teams that are in the top 10 for the state. He knows they’ll have a good week and is looking forward to homecoming. Though there are no moral victories in matchups like last Friday’s, McPhie said the reality is the gap in the scores is much smaller than it was a couple years ago.

McPhie looks forward to the final four competitions this season, beginning with homecoming this Friday, Sept. 28 beginning at 6 p.m.