Plainsmen in must-win game at Rock Springs

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

It’s officially do or die time for the Laramie Plainsmen in their quest to make the state playoffs.
A win over Rock Springs Friday night and Cheyenne Central next week could put the Plainsmen in the playoffs. One more loss, especially against the Tigers, will keep them out.

“It would be a slim or none chance of getting in, we need to win this week,” Laramie coach Bob Knapton said.

Kickoff in Rock Springs is slated for 7 p.m.

The likely target to get into the playoffs will be two wins. At 0-3 in South Conference play, Laramie cannot afford another loss. They‘ll go up against a Rock Springs team that is 1-2.

“They are going to look at this game to they and win it so they can seal themselves in to," Knapton said. “There might be some teams with two wins and one of them might not make them in.”

The Plainsmen, meanwhile, have had a yo-yo type of season offensively and defensively. When the Laramie offense performs well, the defense doesn‘t. When the defense is respectable, the offense struggles.

The Plainsmen have been hut out two times in their last three games -- 23-0 by Scottsbluff, Neb. And 33-0 last week by No. 2 Green River. When Laramie moved the ball and scored well two weeks ago against Evanston, it gave up 51 points.

“We need to go out there and play ball. Kind of like we did against Green River, but we need to get some offense generated,” Knapton said. “We need to get going, we need some people to step up and start making some plays.”

In the loss to Green River, gave up a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a bad snap on a punt that eventually led to a touchdown. Other than those mistakes, it was probably the cleanest game they had played in a while. Those turnovers, however, hurt, and that can’t happen against the tigers on Friday, Knapton said.

“We can’t be fumbling, we can’t have bad snaps,” he said. “We can’t give them anything that would get the momentum to go the other way. We have to get the momentum going our way. We have to stop them, shut them down and score some points. It’s time.”

Rock Springs is 2-4 overall, with wins over Evanston (16-10) and Jackson (30-16) two weeks ago.

“They can step up and stop people,” Knapton said. “Defensively, they are pretty tough. Offensively, they have been struggling. It’s time for us to step up and make our own breaks instead of just playing well enough until we make some mistakes and we fall behind. We have to get in our minds, have a good attitude and have no penalties.”

The Tigers are 11th (last) in the state in total offense, averaging 173 yards game. Laramie is ninth at 231 yards a game.

Quarterback Wesley Padilla leads the tigers in both rushing and passing, with 212 yards rushing and 40 of 88 passing for 398 yards, two touchdowns and nine interceptions.

A quick start is always essential for the Plainsmen.

“Whoever gets on top first and gets going, that’s going to help momentum-wise,” Knapton said