Bearcats run over Plainsmen

Richard Anderson photo
Scottsbluff running back Tyler Geary ran for 172 yards against Laramie Friday night in the Bearcats' 23-0 win.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

Laramie head coach Bob Knapton was hard pressed to find anything positive about Friday night’s 23-0 loss to Scottsbluff, Neb., at Deti Stadium.

In fact, Knapton thought it was just a "horrible" night all around for his team.

“We don’t tackle nobody, we don’t block nobody,” Knapton said. “I think we came out here and we expected them to lay down and let us win.”

After the Plainsmen, now 1-4, earned their first win of the season with a solid 24-16 victory over Casper Kelly Walsh last week, Knapton felt like Laramie had some momentum going and would be guarded against a letdown.

It turned out to be a classic case of one step forward and two steps back for the team in the last two weeks.

“That was a giant step backwards,” he added. “We had kids get frustrated, kids getting penalties. We have to start regrouping again, that’s ridiculous. They come out with a couple of different things and we have to learn how to make adjustments. We didn’t.”

The game began as a penalty-fest, with the local Albany County Officials Association crew throwing yellow flags on six of the first 12 plays. By halftime, there were 143 total yards of offense and 123 yards of penalties.

It took both teams a little time to recover and neither team really got into a groove offensively in the first half, as Scottsbluff led by just 3-0 count at the break. Laramie didn’t get its first first down until three minutes into the second quarter. It would get worse. The Plainsmen would finish with just 50 yards of total offense, three first downs and none in the second half.

The Bearcats came out and put the game away in the third quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by shifty halfback Tyler Gealy, a 66-yard punt return by Trey Wilberger for a 17-0 and a 38-yard run by sophomore reserve quarterback Mike Klein with two minutes left in the period.

“They were a pretty good team. They got some big kids in there and we didn’t see some of those kids on film,” Knapton said. “They came out with a good scheme to stop us and we got frustrated. We have to learn to stick to our rules and do it right. We started freaking out and didn’t do it right.

“We have to learn to sit there and play tough ball and we have to learn to show up every night to play tough ball. That’s just part of getting used to your team, I guess. We played a tough game last week and I thought, ‘now we’re on a roll, let’s get going.’ We over did it. We thought this was going to be easy now. No, it is not going to be easy. Every week is tough.”

Geary was a tough Bearcat to bring down as the Plainsmen defense was unsuccessful with many arm-tackle attempts. The result was 172 yards on 25 carries. Scottsbluff finished with 275 yards rushing on 43 carries. Starting quarterback Brett Klein and his younger brother, Mike, combined to complete just 4 of 10 passes for 21 yards.

“They have a great running back,“ Knapton said. “I don’t know where they have been in the last three or four ballgames to be losing like that. They are a good team, but sheesh, we’re in a ballgame and we have to play ball, we have to make adjustments, we have to learn how to do it. That’s football.”

Laramie’s lone bright spot on the night came from junior free safety Rylan Harding, who had two pass interceptions. Junior linebacker Tyler English also had a fumble recovering.

Junior fullback Charles Shearingen led the Plainsmen with 32 yards on nine carries. Junior wingback Jon Sorenson, who had 137 yards rushing against KW, had just four yards on seven rushes and junior wingback Luke Knapton had seven yards on six carries. As a team, Laramie ran for 32 yards on 29 rushes.

Senior quarterback Coleton Wilson was 5 of 12 passing for 18 yards and one interception. Laramie’s lone scoring threat ended on the pass interception by Wilberger on the Scottsbluff 5-yard line.

The Plainsmen will look to bounce back next Friday as they return to South 5A Conference play at Evanston.