The Green River Wolves football team started the season for the second year in a row against Lander Valley High School. Lander had the advantage of having already played a game defeating Pinedale 35-0 in their early season opener.
The Wolves started the season with high hopes as they have more than 20 talented seniors on their roster, along with a new first year head coach, Ken Cuthbertson.
The first couple of series set the tone on the night for the Wolves as they moved the ball into scoring territory despite several penalties. However a fumble recovered by Lander shortly into the drive and stopped by senior James King kept Lander from scoring on the interception.
Lander took over on offense and preceded to execute their game plan as they pounded the ball up the middle with seven straight runs and scoring the first of four running touchdowns, establishing a 7-0 lead early on.
The Wolves got the ball back and showed their first game jitters as they fumbled the ball with problems on the exchange from the center on the first two plays of the series. An incomplete pass ended the drive and the first quarter after a good punt by senior Seth White. The Wolves defense stiffened and stopped Lander’s forth-down attempt for a fresh set of downs and the Wolves got the ball right back.
On the next series, senior quarterback Jacob Fuss completed his first pass of the season to Orin Watts, but after a 5-yard penalty against the Wolves Lander intercepted a pass at the Wolves 21-yard line.
Again, Lander pounded the ball over the middle with J.D. Renfro and Alex Atkinson making tackles on the drive, but Lander with a short field took the ball in on a second touchdown through a 2-yard run and with the P.A.T. resulting in a 14-0 first half lead.
King and fellow senior Gabe Burdett ran the ball for some good gains, but the Wolves’ drive was frustrated with two more penalties after a completion from Fuss to Dylan Taylor, a penalty was called for a block in the back which negated a big gain.
The Wolves then called a time out and on the very next play with a third down and 12 yards to go, Fuss again completed a pass to the speedy Taylor for a big first down. The Wolves ran five more plays with another penalty hampering the drive and they again had to punt and after a short run by Lander, the half ended with Lander holding a 14-0 lead.
The Wolves kicked to Lander to start the second half. On their first play from scrimmage Green River senior defensive lineman Saldivir Derek tackled the Lander runner for a 2-yard loss. The next play, the Wolves got another big defensive play as Dylan Taylor played excellent defense to force an incomplete pass and Lander had to punt the ball back to Green River.
The Wolves went to James King for four straight gains on running plays, along with a 7-yard run from Burdett, but after a completed screen pass from Fuss to Atkinson, the drive stalled and Lander got the ball back.
Lander again went to the run with defense provided by King, Derek, Burdett and Trevor Bingham among others and the Wolves defense once again stopped Lander, but the snap on the punt was fumbled and Lander recovered with another short field and six plays later just after the start of the fourth quarter, Lander scored again on a 1-yard run to take a 21-0 lead.
The Wolves offense went three and out and the punt was returned to the 45 yard line once again giving Lander good field position to start their drive.
A couple of big runs and Lander had the ball at the 3-yard line where they took the ball in for their final score and a 28-0 lead.
On their next series, Green River’s offense struck quickly after a big 42-yard pass from Fuss to White and a second big pass fro Fuss to White for 20 yards and the first touchdown of the season making it 28-7.
Green River tried an on side kick, but it was recovered by Lander. Green River’s defense played better in the second half and stopped Lander.
The Wolves got the ball back with just under five minutes left in the game. It was Lander’s defense which then rose to the occasion, stopping the Wolves on three and out. The Wolves eventually got the ball back for one more offensive series. In their drive, Fuss completed two passes to Taylor King, who ran for a 16-yard gain and Fuss picked up 11 yards, but what appeared to be a touchdown from Fuss to Taylor ended Green River’s efforts on the night as the receiver was called out of bounds and the game ended at 28-7.
The Wolves showed flashes of offensive power both in the running game and in the passing game with a number of talented players at the skill positions and played some tough defense despite a fine performance from Lander’s top running back, but first game jitters resulted in the Wolves committing too many turnovers and committing too many penalties.
The Wolves will be at home this week in another non-conference game against 1-0 Buffalo.
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