Wolves football starts strong

The weather was perfect, the stands were packed and each team had a brand new coach and some inexperienced players for their first game of the season.

Both teams played hard until the end, with Green River coming away with a hard fought 31-20 victory over the Lander Tigers.

Green River showed some real depth with running back senior Kyle Ivie making a solid return from last year's season-ending knee injury. A host of young backs led by sophomores James King, Gabe Burdettte and junior Tayler Jensen ran well, as did senior quarterback Dallan Serrano, who settled down as the game went on and showed good poise in managing the game. Anthony Mitchell, Seth White and Anthony Johnson showed that the Wolves offense is not one dimensional, as they also have a solid passing game.

The defense was led by Payton Tucker, Mitchell, Johnson and Erik Gwaltney. Gwaltney also excelled in the kicking game and both the offensive and defensive lines.

New head coach Marty Wrage went for the first down in seven forth-down situations. With some excellent play calling and execution by the entire Wolves offense Green River converted all of their forth-down attempts.

Green River kicked off to start the game and avoided disaster when the Lander returner burst into the open and looked like he might go all the way before be was stopped by the last Wolf to have a shot at him. Gwaltney made the tackle to save an early score by the Tigers.

In their first series, the Tigers completed a couple of short passes, but pressure on their quarterback caused a pass on third down to go incomplete and the Tigers had to punt.

On the Wolves first offensive series they gave the ball to Ivie on three consecutive plays. Serrano, who was backup last year at quarterback, attempted his first pass of the season, but it was intercepted and the ball went back to the Tigers.

Lander's offense went three and out with outstanding pressure defense and good tackling led by Mitchell, Gwaltney, Ivie and Tucker.

On the punt, Lander was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul for interference on the punt returners ability to make the catch and the Wolves had good field position. The Wolve's drive was unsuccessful and the team had to punt the ball back to Lander. White hit a high 38-yard punt that Lander had no chance to return. Lander ripped of four good runs with Tucker in on the tackle on four of the runs and Michael Anderson and Mitchell in on the stops.

Lander's quarterback threw a 35-yard touchdown strike despite pressure from Johnson and the Tigers took the early lead 6-0 after the field goal was missed.

On the ensuing kickoff Lander was flagged for a face mask penalty and the Wolves again had good field position to start a drive. Serrano on second down threw to Burdette for 9 yards for his first completion of the season. The Wolves then showed their depth at running back with Burdette, junior Tayler Jensen, King and Ivie all pounding the ball at the Lander defense with Serrano ripping off a big 16 -yard run along with Ivies 18-yard run for big gains. The first quarter was in the books with Green River on the move, but Lander held it to a 6-0 early lead.

In the second quarter, the Wolves took their first lead 7-6.

After Lander's possession, the Wolves once again went to their running game with Ivie running for 4 and 18 yards for a first down. Serrano then picked up four before Lander made two good stops on defense to bring up forth down and 7 yards to go for Green River. Wrage did not hesitate and called for a run by a fresh Tayler Jensen who picked up the first down on a nine yard run with excellent blocking by his backs and the offensive line.

Ivie then ran for 3 yards but fumbled, but the Wolves recovered the fumble. On the next play, Serrano dropped back to pass, but his receivers were covered so he tucked the ball and picked up a short gain. King running hard gained 15 yards, again with some excellent blocking. King got the ball three more times on the drive with the big play a 14-yard power sweep after a holding call had slowed the Wolves drive. Serrano then executed a great fake to his running back then turned and threw a nice pass on a slant pattern to Anthony Johnson who made the catch and after Gwaltneys field goal, the Wolves had upped their lead to 14-6. The Wolves led at halftime 14-6.

Gwaltney kicked off again blasted the ball into the end zone, not allowing Lander any chance for a big return. After Lander picked up 7 yards on first down, Gwaltney made a tackle for no gain which was followed by an incomplete pass and Lander was stopped on three and out and had to punt to the Wolves.

After a second interception, again the Wolves defense rose to the occasion with big plays by Mitchell, Anderson and Ivie forcing a Lander punt. After Ivie picked up some tough yards on the first two offensive plays. Serrano threw a strike to Johnson who showed good speed while breaking a big run after the catch for 71 yards and the biggest offensive play of the night. Lander forced a tough angle on the field goal try for Gwaltney, who scored for a 17-6 Wolves lead.

After a 7-point score by Lander, sophomore Canaan Eslick returned the ball 51 yards. Big plays on the next series by Mitchell, followed by a 15-yard run by Serrano and another by King. Serrano then took it in himself from 10 yards out and the Wolves regained control after a field goal for a 24-14 lead to begin the fourth quarter.

The Wolves were not finished scoring as in their next drive Serrano threw to White on a 15-yard pass before Serrano rolled out and then cut inside on another run to make the score 31-14 after the extra point.

Lander fought hard right to the end and completed several passes on their next possession, culminating in a touchdown pass.

After the field goal was blocked, the score ended 31-20, giving the Wolves their first win.

The Wolves will be home again next week hosting a non-conference opponent as they take on the Rawlins Outlaws, game time 7 p.m.