Big plays propel Buffs

Greybull would gain inside track in conference race by beating Rocky Mt.

The Greybull Buffs went off script in a week five, using big plays in the passing game to defeat Big Piney 20-14 and remain unbeaten with just three regular season games remaining.

Through the first four weeks, no team in the nine-man class had attempted fewer passes than the Buffs.  With the best rushing attack in the state and tip-of-the-spear Bennett Sanford nearing 1,000 yards, there was no need.

But the Punchers made the Buffs play a different style. Quarterback Caden Hunt was up to the task, completing 7-of-14 passes for 159 yards.  Two went for scores to Mason Richardson, who finished with four grabs for 128 yards.

The Buffs still got their yards on the ground — 200 on 58 carries — but they had to work for them.  Sanford led with 118 on 25 carries, which put him over 1,000 yards.

“Big Piney prepared very well to negate our running game,” said Coach Jeremy Pouska. “Each of their linebackers was assigned to a back, and when we ran counters, they were keying on those backs. They stayed true to that.

“But when you stack the box that tight, it opens play-action passing opportunities.”

The Punchers scored on their first possession, but the Buffs answered.  Set up at the Big Piney doorstep after an interception and return by Richardson, the Buffs scored on a 1-yard plunge by Caiden Sorenson.

They extended the lead to 12-8 in the second quarter on a 54-yard pass from Hunt to Richardson.  They hooked up again midway through the third on a play cover 13-yards.  Hunt ran in the conversion, making the score 20-8.

The Buffs held on from there.  While they gave up a third-quarter touchdown that trimmed their lead to 20-14, they blanked the Punchers in the fourth.  Richardson made the biggest play of all, intercepting a pass at the goal line with about two minutes left. Yandel Hernandez applied pressure to force the errant throw.

With two touchdown receptions and two interceptions, it was the best game of the year for Richardson, a sophomore who was clocked at a 4.3 during this summer but has been slowed by injuries.

“Caden stepped up big, too,” Pouska said. “He played like he had ice in his veins.  Nothing was going to stand in his way.  He stepped up into big pressure and delivered passes where they needed to be.”

On the defensive side, Pouska credited his guys for winning in the trenches. “They played assignment sound and opened up some opportunities for our linebackers to make play

This week

With three weeks to play, the Buffs control their own playoff destiny. By running the table, they can sew up home-field advantage for the first two rounds.

But it won’t be easy. Rocky Mountain will come to town Friday with the same goal in mind. But with a two-point loss to Big Piney, the best the Grizzlies can hope for a three-way logjam atop the league, which would require a tiebreaker.

“Both teams are pretty big up front, and I really think success is going to start there,” said Pouska. “Whoever controls the line of scrimmage, both offensively and defensively, is going to have the edge.”

Pouska is confident his team will be ready for the challenge.

“In the locker room afterward, the boys were changing out preparing for the ride home. They seniors said, ‘Cut the music.’  C.J. (Fink) says, ‘Hey, we’re 5-0 and that’s great.  But next week, it’s Rocky. We have to get to work.’  It was great to see our team leaders really step up that way.”

Greybull 20, Big Piney 14

RUSHING — Greybull 58-200 (Jesse Brown 19-36, Bennett Sanford 25-118, Caiden Sorenson 6-20, Caden Hunt 3-19, WhoIs#38 1-3, Mason Richardson 5-7); Big Piney 27-232.

PASSING — Greybull (Caden Hunt) 7-of-14 for 159 yards.

RECEIVING — Richarson 4-128, Yandel Hernandez 1-15, Carter Jacobs 1-4, Sanford 1-16.

DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS — Richardson 6 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles, 2 interceptions; Hunt 2 solos, 3 assists, 1 fumble recovery; Sanford 2 solos, 2 assists; Sorenson 6 solos, 3 assists; Hernandez 8 solos, 1 assist, 1 fumble recovery; Garrett Wiggins 2 solos, 2 assists, 1 fumble recovery.