Plainsmen ready to roll

Richard Anderson photo

The Laramie Plainsmen will unveil a tweak of their double wing offense Friday night when they open the season by hosting Rock Springs (7 p.m.). Pictured, quarterback Jon Sorenson (middle, back) will run the offense out of the shotgun. Also pictured is halfback Dan Estes (1) and fullback Charles Swearingen (45).

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

Jon Sorenson will basically get to touch the football on every offensive plays this season. That makes him smile, and if things go right, it will make the Plainsmen smile as well.

Laramie's leading rusher last season, Sorenson has been moved over to quarterback to run a version of their double wing offense. The offense will be similar to last year's except for one thing -- Sorenson will direct it from the shotgun.

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Second-year Laramie head coach Bob Knapton said this tweak will free Sorenson up to do a lot of different things.

“He’s a great running back, so we put him in position to use him as a running back because we’re going to run him a lot," Sorenson said. “He can throw it so now people are going to have to watch what we are doing. They’re going to have to read a little better, so if some of them are not taught to do that, we’re going to find some open holes. He can run off of that, he can pass off of that. We can hand off to our motion back. We have more quite a few more tricks to do and quite a few things to open him up.”

Sorenson, who ran for nearly 800 yards last season and has a strong arm (he’s a catcher in American Legion baseball), likes the options this offense will give him.

“It opens up our offense a lot more," Sorenson said. "As Coach (Josh) Barge said, it adds a whole different dimension. We can pass or run on the same play. With a lot of speed that we have in the backfield, it opens up the option in trap plays and speed outs. It really helps us as an offense and as a group."

Heading into Friday night’s season opener against Rock Springs (7 p.m., Deti Stadium), senior halfback Luke Knapton said that Sorenson has done a good job this preseason in running the offense.

"Jon has been doing a really good job out of the shotgun," Luke Knapton said. "We have a lot more plays that we can run, and it will help our offense get going. We have more speed and that will be helpful."

More focus
One of the Plainsmen’s problems last season in Bob Knapton’s first year was focus -- or the lack of focus. Laramie was hampered by inexperience and penalties in the 1-8 campaign.

The Plainsmen have the experience this season, with nine returning starters on defense and eight on offense, along with 22 seniors.

The focus has been there to date.

"We just have to keep our heads and no stupid penalties like we had last year, and just go out there and play the whole game and play hard," Luke Knapton said. "I think we have a lot more focus. Guernsey helped us come together a lot. I think we’re ready for this game."

Bob Knapton said they are miles ahead of where they were at this time last season.

"We are much better than we were last year, and we have much of the same kids back," he said. "We have nine returning starters on defense. They know the checks, the calls. Last year, they had some problems in the first couple of games. People caught us not quite in the right coverage. It was the first time some of them were on the varsity field. I don’t think they quite knew what to do. But this year they know what to do, we’re making our checks.

"We have a lot of seniors and that builds confidence right there. They are good leaders and they have been working hard. We’re looking to get out there and be ore positive about what they are doing. I think it will show up."

Sorenson, who was voted a team captain along with Luke Knapton, said he is looking forward to his senior season for many reasons, including the opportunity to be a leader on and off the field.

"It’s a lot different, but it is a good different," Sorenson said. "You go through your freshman, sophomore and junior years looking at your seniors and you like with them and you just try to be the best senior that you can. All of the seniors have put a lot of time and effort in and it all comes together your senior year. You’re excited to be out here when you know that you are at your best."

Time for payback?
Among the eight losses for the Plainsmen last season was a very difficult to swallow 35-28 defeat in overtime to the Tigers in a game Laramie seemingly had won. The Plainsmen took a 28-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Plainsmen don’t need to be reminded about what happened last season.

"Hopefully, as soon as we have them down, we'll stay tough throughout the game," Luke Knapton said.

At the same time, Laramie knows that any win is crucial this season as the big change statewide has all 4A teams playing each other.

Bob Knapton said they need a win and they need it now.

"We need a win against Rock Springs if we are looking to get into the playoffs," Bob Knapton said. "We need to start the season out with a big win. It’s good to have them first, right off the bat. Maybe we’ll have a little extra motivation. They know they should have won last year. I think they are a little more focused on getting ready for this game."

The Tigers finished 3-7 last season and look to improve under the tutelage of head coach Tony Yerkovich. Rock Springs returns all-conference quarterback Wes Padilla and all-conference receiver Corey Patek.

"They are a good, solid team. They don’t start school until the 8th, so they have more time than anybody to get ready," Bob Knapton said. "They are going to be ready to go. We’ll just have to go out there and play. We have over 20 seniors and we expect them to have leadership and we’re going to get after them."