Football team scores big win over Jackson

The Green River Wolves football team scored an impressive team victory over the Jackson Broncs this past Friday, winning 33-17 before a good crowd on Senior night in Green River.

Jackson elected to receive to start the game, and after recovering a squib kick on the 46-yard line they started the game with excellent field position. Jackson's offense got an eight-yard pass completion and an 11-yard run to move deeper into Wolves' territory, but two straight penalties against the Broncs and they had to punt the ball to the Wolves. The Wolves mounted an eight-play drive which included a couple well-thrown balls for completions to Hunter Finley and Jackson Mitchell, but the drive stalled and the Wolves had to punt the ball back to Jackson. Eight plays later the Broncs had scored, kicked the extra point, and taken a 7-0 lead. The Wolves then took just four plays, culminating in a big 60-yard pass completion, for a touchdown from senior quarterback Caleb Lake to fellow Senior Hunter Finley, both of whom had huge days on offense, to tie the score after the P.A.T. kick was good 7-7 just before the start of the second quarter.

For Jackson's next possession, Conner Todd broke up a pass play, and after a seven-yard pass completion Todd intercepted a pass and the Wolves' offense was back in business. Only five plays later, the Wolves' 3A leading ball carrier Bracken Miller made a great run and dive across the endzone line for the Wolves' second touchdown of the game. With the point after good, the Wolves had quickly regained the lead 14-7.

On Jackson's next series Alex Cooley made a tackle for a loss and Nate Mitchell made a saving tackle after a 23-yard pass completion, but the big play was a fumble recovery by Jeremiah Selmo to give the ball back to the Wolves and stop Jackson's drive. The Wolves moved the ball, but a missed field goal stopped their first half scoring. Jackson then mounted their own drive, kicking a field goal just before halftime to narrow the Wolves lead to 14-10 at the half.

To start the second half, the Wolves had an 11-play drive with a big 50-yard screen pass to Miller, but Green River's offense stalled and they gave the ball back to Jackson. On Jackson's forth play, Green River's Gage Finley recovered a fumble and Jackson had to give the ball back to the Wolves. Green River then ran the ball with Miller and Todd and a big pass completion to Skyler Lee before Jackson Mitchell took the ball in from five yards out, giving Green River a 21-10 lead. The Wolves' defense once again prevailed. The Wolves scored again with a big play consisting of a 75-yard pass completion and run from Lake to Finley before Miller took it in from eight yards out, giving them a 27-10 lead to start the fourth quarter. Jackson scored on their next drive to make it 27-17, but the Wolves scored once more with strong running from Todd, Mitchell and Miller to end the scoring at 33-17, giving Green River a big win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Wolves' offensive players of the game included Green River's entire offensive line of Deylin Miller, Tanner Mosely, Gage Finley, Tristin Drozd, Logan Allison and Kyler Bartlett, who provided excellent run blocking and pass protection the entire game. Also named as outstanding offensive players were quarterback Caleb Lake, who completed 13 of 18 passes for 325 yards and one touchdown; Hunter Finley, who caught six of those passes for 182 yards; and Bracken Miller, who ran the ball 21 times for 99 yards. The defensive player of the game was Nate Mitchell, who had an outstanding game making big plays throughout the contest.

After the game head Coach Kevin Cuthbertson commented: "Very proud of these kids, the way they overcame adversity, the resilience and perseverance we showed, never giving up on the season." Cuthbertson was also "happy for our seniors to be able to get this win on Senior Night," and he also commented that he was "very proud and grateful for the coaching staff and the amount of work that was put into scouting and the game plan by our assistant coaches." Cuthbertson acknowledged that "now the challenge is keeping the momentum going and getting into the playoffs."

The Wolves' next game will be on the road against the Star Valley Braves on Friday at 7 p.m.