Bobcats fall to rival Worland Warriors

The Hot Springs County High School Bobcats varsity football team played host to long-time rival Worland on Friday, September 13. After many years playing at different levels, this year's realignment of schools, has the Bobcats and the Warriors, once again, competing in the 2A West. The Cats have not enjoyed a win against Worland since 1998 - and unfortunately, they will have to wait a while longer for that happy event.

The #4 ranked Warriors came into Thermopolis hard off a loss to 3A Powell the week before, and were looking to even up their season record.

Coach Boone Bowker said, "The Warriors are a balanced team – they are big and physical - and we knew we would be in for a battle. With realignment, this was the first time for our players to experience a real rivalry game. It was great to see the stands full – on both sides of the field."

The beautiful fall evening – with the setting sun gracing the foothills to the east of the stadium – was a perfect setting to renew this long-standing, and long-suppressed rivalry. In the first half, the Cats impressive defense gave the Warriors all they could handle – with the score tied a zero at the end of the first quarter, and nearly the same score at the end of the second quarter. Worland was held to no first downs in the first quarter.

Indeed, the first half of the game was a defensive clinic by both teams - with each team working hard to control field possession, and neither team effectively moving the ball on offense. With nine seconds on the clock, however, Worland completed a long pass - with an even longer run down the home-team sideline – to lead the Cats by seven, as the half expired.

Following on the heels of last week's remarkable offensive effort, the Cats were unable to get their ground or passing games clicking – managing just 15 yards of offense in the first half, and a meagerly 132 combined yards for the game. The Bobcats Special Teams were a bit shaky – giving up two blocked punts, which led to 14 points for Worland. An on-side kick by Cannon Boren - which he proceeded to recover himself - was called back by a procedural penalty on the kick-off.

As the gun sounded, the score was Worland 21, and Thermopolis 6. While the scoreboard may not have reflected it, there were highlights for the home team throughout the game. Zane Stam had a 16 yard run from scrimmage, and a TD catch; Nollin Collins had a 26 yard catch; Logan Dafoe had an important fumble recovery; and Dell Dukes had two interceptions. In the third quarter, sophomore, Cannon Boren, came in at quarter-back - to relieve the injured Armani Dukes – and threw the touchdown pass to Zane Stam.

After the game, coach Bowker commented on the loss stating,"This is on us. As coaches, we failed to get our team ready for Worland. The team played well, but we did not prepare them as well as we should have."

This week, the Cats will travel to Kemmerer on Friday, Sept. 20. Coach Bowker said the Rangers are an improving and competitive team, who had nine takeaways from Pinedale last week. "Kemmerer will give us a challenge, but this is a must win for us."