Middle school football underway

Thermopolis Middle School kicked off their football season a few weeks ago with a 38-6 win over Shoshoni.

Head coach Shane Corpening is extremely happy with how the defense played and saw a lot of really good things happening as well as some things that need to be cleaned up in practice.

“There truly wasn’t much that Shoshoni was able to do offensively against our defense,” Corpening said. “We did a good job of covering their receivers and our interior personnel did a great job of shutting down the run.

“We were also able to get a lot of pressure on their quarterback. We sacked him several times and he was never able to be comfortable in the pocket. We also did a solid job of gang tackling as there were 11 helmets on the ball of most defensive plays.”

Corpening said Chris and Ryan Arends did a fantastic job from the linebacker position. “They are great effort players who are really willing to hit,” he said. “Colter Price also did a solid job as a defensive end.

“Size-wise, Colter should probably be a defensive back, but we put him at defensive end because he has been really coachable and he has a wrestling background. After the first few possessions, Colter really did a great job of establishing containment for our defense.

“I also thought that Armani Dukes and Brody Sorensen did an outstanding job jamming up the middle. Overall, Coach Despain has our defensive side of the ball coached up really well. I think teams will have a hard time scoring on us this season.”

Offensively, Corpening said, the young Bobcats looked unstoppable at times, but did shoot themselves in the foot with a couple of bad penalties and an untimely turnover.

“Armani Dukes was terrific at quarterback,” Corpening said, “and he really emerged as a leader for our team. He threw two touchdown passes to his older brother Del and also carried the ball a few times and picked up critical first downs when we really needed them.

“Del (Dukes) has emerged as a true threat at wide receiver. Teams will have a hard time covering him this year.”

Shoshoni had to move a safety over the top of Del which really opened the running game for the Cats. Both Arends brothers carried the ball from the running back and full back positions.

“They have a great vision and it usually takes two or three defenders to bring them down,” Corpening said. “I was really happy with how they played on both sides. Our offensive line did a good job of opening holes and I think they will improve every week.”

The team plays Worland at home Sept. 17 beginning at 4:30 p.m.