Buffs host Lusk in playoff opener

Roll up 94 points in win over the Chiefs

By Nathan Oster

The 12 seniors on this year’s Greybull High School football got more just than the standard introductions, photographs with their parents and strolls to midfield that are customary before the final home game of the season.

Early on, they were handed the keys to the Buffalo Express, which had rolled over its seven previous opponents and was looking to complete the school’s first unbeaten regular season since 1989.

The Buffs accomplished those goals, but had some fun along the way.  Facing a winless Wyoming Indian team, Coach Jeremy Pouska used nothing but seniors on the first two offensive and defensive possessions.

“We just wanted to give them all a chance to get some playing time together as a group,” Pouska said.  “We had guys playing positions they’d never played before.”

The Buffs scored on their first possession, with Jacob Shelley, the team’s starting center, lining up at fullback and scoring on a 5-yard dive.  But the senior defense struggled, allowing the Chiefs to score on each of their first two drives to take a 12-6 lead.

“Honestly it was good to see Wyoming Indian have success there,” Pouska said. “It’s the most points they’d scored all season ... they were enjoying the game, too.”

The Buffs regained the lead on their next possession, getting a 43-yard pass from Caden Hunt to Yandel Hernandez, followed by another pass and catch from the two standouts for the two-pointer that made it 14-12. 

After that, it was no contest. The Buffs hung 57 points in the second, 23 more in the third and took a knee on their last few possessions possessions, starting at about the 11-minute mark of the fourth, to avoid topping 100 points.

“We were trying to do everything we could to keep the score from going crazy,” said Pouska. “People will probably look at the 94-12 score and say, ‘Sure you did.’ But everyone who plays for our program, varsity on down to JV, every last one of them, got playing time.

“With 11 minutes left ... we made the decision to sacrifice the remaining JV time to kneel.”

The final stats were eye-popping, as eight different players produced 13 touchdowns in just over three quarters.  Brown had five — four rushing, one on an interception return.  Caden Hunt rushed for one, threw for another (to Yandel Hernandez) and had a pick six.  Jacob Shelley and Alan Burgos had touchdown runs, Jax Miller and Landen Craft caught touchdown passes from Cord Edeler, and Mason Richardson had a pick six of his own.

The Greybull defense forced 10 Wyoming Indian turnovers — five interceptions, five fumbles — and many were deep in Chief territory which put the Buffs in position to easily extend their lead.

Greybull had 190 yards rushing, with Brown carrying four times for 108 yards.  He entered the game needing 221 to join Bennett Sanford in the 1,000-yard club; another 113 would put him there.

With the win, the Buffs finished the regular season as the unbeaten conference champions.

“These guys come in week in and week out, every day trying to better themselves not only individually but also as a team,” Pouska said. “To see everything come to fruition as an 8-0, conference champion team was really awesome.

“I’m super proud of the guys and hope it continues in the playoffs.”

Lusk

As long as they win, the Buffs are assured of playing at home for the first two rounds of the playoffs.  Their first opponent is Lusk, which comes in for a 6 p.m. kickoff Friday night.  As it’s a WHSAA event, fans will need to pay an admission fee of $5 for adults, $3 for students.

The Buffs defeated Lusk 50-24 earlier in the season.

“I know their season’s been plagued with injuries at important positions, especially quarterback, but defensively, they still get after it,”  said Pouska. “So we will have an idea what they bring to the table.

“We just have to make sure we’re taking everything back at practice, sharpening that edge and focusing on the things that got us to where we are.  That means playing with full intensity and winning the battle at the line of scrimmage.”

He added, “All of us want to thank the community for continuing to come out and support the guys.  It’s going to be very important to have another big crowd on Friday, to set the atmosphere. It’s been a while since we’ve hosted a playoff game.”

WIHS 12   0   0 0 — 12

Greybull 14 57 23 0 — 94

RUSHING — Wyo. Indian 20-(-11); Greybull 16-190 (Jesse Brown 4-108, Bennett Sanford 1-2, Caiden Sorenson 1-4, Caden Hunt 3-25, Jacob Shelley 1-5, Rex Cooper 2-7, Garrett Wiggins 2-7, Blade Baer 1-27, Alan Burgos 1-5.

PASSING — Wyo. Indian 8-of-19 for 148 yards; Greybull 8-of-10 for 90 yards (Hunt 3-7 for 54, Cord Edeler 3-5 for 36).

RECEIVING — Yandel Hernandez 2-46, Sanford 1-8, Anthony Chacon 1-9, Jax Miller 1-26, Landen Craft 1-1.

DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS — As a team, Greybull had 6 sacks, 5 interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries. Clayton Didrickson led with 18 defensive points (2 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery), followed by Garrett Wiggins with 13 (3 solo, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery) and Yandel Hernandez with 10 (1 solo, 1 assist, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery).