Bobcats dominate Tongue River

The Hot Springs County High School Bobcats hosted Tongue River on Friday, September 6. While the local inhabitants of the Town of Thermopolis welcomed the Eagles team and their fans to town, on the gridiron, the visitors were addressed as opponents by the home team.

On a perfectly balmy fall day, the Bobcats treated the visiting Eagles to a 34 to zero loss. Coming on the heels of their scrimmage win against Newcastle last week, the defeat of the Eagles was well received by the Bobcats faithful fans.

For their home opener, the Cats came to play, and issued notice - in no uncertain terms - that they possess an ability to rack up offensive yardage. Holding the Eagles to just 82 total yards, the Cats racked up 357 total yards of offense – with 342 yards in the ground game.

The game got off to a great start when Ryan Arends took an option pitch from quarterback Armani Dukes, and rambled 65 yards to an opening possession touchdown. It was a back-breaking play for the hapless Eagles, but it would not be the last that Tongue River would see of the Bobcats running game.

Following the missed point-after-attempt on Ryan’s touchdown run, the first quarter ended with the score of Bobcats 6 and Tongue River 0. In the second quarter, Zane Stam had a 43 yard run – displaying an ability to juke his way out of the arms of would be tacklers. At half-time, the score remained the same.

In the second half, the Cats poured on the offense - with awe inspiring runs by Chris Arends (32 yards); Ryan Arends (23 yards for his second TD); Armani Dukes (17 yards for a TD); Mack Buckner (26 yards); and Bridger Peil (22 yards for a TD).

Coach Boone Bowker had stated before the season that the team would continue to emphasize the option offense he had installed last year. Suffice it to say, the option play was working handsomely against the Eagles.

Not to be outdone, the Bobcats defense also came to play on Friday night. Playing both sides of the ball, Armani Dukes, played well at quarterback, but also managed a sack on defense. Brother, Dell Dukes, came up with two interceptions, and a blocked punt, to add to the defensive flex of the Cats. Cannon Boren kicked off to the Eagles in the fourth quarter, and then heading down field to lower that proverbial boom on the luckless kick returner for Tongue River.

Coach Bowker commented, “I couldn’t be happier with the way the team played. Everything clicked the way it is supposed to click. The offense was performing the way we had anticipated, but the defense came up really big, and left the Eagles feeling pretty overwhelmed.”

This week the Cats will host former long-time rivals, the Worland Warriors. Worland is coming off of a loss in week one to Powell. The game will be Friday, September 13 with kick off at 7 p.m. No doubt it will be a great game that no true fan will want to miss. So, break out your Bobcats swag, and head for the stands at LeRoy Hayes Field.