Richard Anderson photo
Laramie junior Luke Knapton runs for some big yards early against Sheridan.
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
Playing to win or just playing to look good. For the Laramie Plainsmen, neither happened Friday night.
The Plainsmen, after two relatively strong second-half outings in losses to Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Cheyenne East, came out flat not only in the game but in the second half, falling to Sheridan 32-3 at Deti Stadium in the annual Homecoming contest.
The loss dropped Laramie to 0-3 in the season and left Bob Knapton a frustrated first-year head coach.
“We need to figure a way to come out here and try to win,” Knapton said. “I think sometimes the kids are trying too hard.”
Desperate to get off to a good start this time, the Plainsmen appeared to be on their way to do just that. Led by a power running game of junior wingback Luke Knapton and junior fullback Charles Swearingen, Laramie moved the ball on the opening drive from its 26-yard line to the Sheridan 20 on eight plays. Knapton had runs of 11, 7, 10 and 10 to give the Plainsmen ideal field position.
But Laramie stalled, gaining just six yards on three plays before junior Phillip Callahan lost six yards on fourth and four.
The Plainsmen got the ball right back on a pass interception by junior Kelby Wilkison near mid-field, but couldn’t move the football.
Sensing the momentum defensively, the Broncos took advantage on offense, connecting on a 51-yard pass play from quarterback Austin Woodward to wide receiver TJ Stender. The Broncs had to settle for a field goal attempt, which was missed, but Laramie was called for a running into the kicker and Sheridan capitalized by scoring two plays later on a 5-yard run by Scott Alltop.
The game went downhill in a hurry for the Plainsmen.
“We didn’t have a block on that field goal attempt and we went ahead and roughed him and gave them a touchdown,” Bob Knapton said. “We can’t be doing stuff like that. Some of our kids are trying too hard and they got to relax. They have to play the ball, play the way it is called.”
Laramie trailed 14-0 at halftime when Woodward hit Mitch Hoy on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 5:21 left in the half.
The Broncs came out in the third quarter and took a 20-0 lead on a 10-play, 57-yard drive. Justin Will scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Woodward.
Laramie’s only score of the day came on a 33-yard field goal by Alex Zuniga. The kick capped a 13-play drive.
Sheridan closed the scoring on a 53-yard run up the middle by Woodward and a late a 17-yard run by Alltop.
The Plainsmen played without senior quarterback and free safety Coleton Wilson, who suffered a slight shoulder separation last week against East. Junior Jon Sorenson filled in, moving over from his normal wingback position.
Sorenson finished with 72 yards rushing on 11 carries, but was 0 for 9 passing with one interception.
“There was a lot of pressure on Jon,” Bob Knapton said. “He’s zipping it in there and he’s waiting, trying to make sure. He’s unsure of himself on some of those plays; that’s the first time he took that many reps at quarterback. That’s a tough thing for Jon to do. I think he did a good job of stepping up. But we have to learn to finish, we have to learn to step up and finish. We have to learn to get over that hump and we have to play to win, not play to look good and lose.”
Knapton led the Plainsmen with 76 yards on 14 carries, with Swearingen adding 62 yards on 11 rushes. Callahan chipped in with 36 yards on 13 carries. As a team, Laramie rushed for a season-high 249 yards.
While Laramie moved the ball at times, Bob Knapton said the Plainsmen reiterated that they have to learn to finish.
“That’s the biggest thing when you come into a program and they are not used to having success; you have to finish, you have to suck it up and finish,” he said. “You have to get tough, that’s what we need to do. You can’t come close, you have to finish the drive and see their morale go down if you drive on them. We drive all of the way down and give them reason to get fired up because they stopped us. We have to learn how to finish and learn how to win.”
Sheridan, 1-1 on the season, finished with 347 yards of total offense -- 175 on the ground and 172 through the air. Woodward completed 14 of 24 passes and two touchdowns.
“They’re good at that outside curl,” Bob Knapton said. We slowed them down as much as we could. They’re good at it, that’s their second year running it. We have to get better.”
The Plainsmen will return to action next week at Casper Kelly Walsh.
We’ll just keep plugging away,” Bob Knapton said.
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