I can’t ask for a better group of individuals to coach. They are selfless, humble and play together. This group of athletes are solid football players but they are even better people. That is the most important and successful part for me to take away as a coach.”

Coach Brandon Gifford

LARAMIE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Doggers battled in an explosive second half in a bid to come back from a 21-0 halftime deficit against Pine Bluffs at the 1A 9-man state title game in Laramie on November 16.

Despite the Doggers’ best efforts, including three touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters at War Memorial Stadium, the Doggers ultimately came up short by a single possession and Pine Bluffs won, 28-22.

A blockbuster season

LFL finished the season with a 10-1 overall record. The Doggers dominated the 1A 9-man East classification with an undefeated 6-0 record to claim the conference championship at the conclusion of the regular season. Both the LFL offense and defense roared onto the field week after week, scoring two blowout victories against Wright (September 27, 49-0) and Saratoga (October 25, 52-0). 

In games where the Doggers’ opponents managed to score a touchdown, the final scores still favored LFL by an overwhelming margin. The Doggers frequently found themselves up by more than 40 points by the third or fourth quarters each week and LFL set the mercy clock into motion against Wind River, Niobrara County, Wright, Southeast and Saratoga.

The 2024 season marked the fifth time in the Doggers’ 122-year football history the team went undefeated during the regular season. The other three undefeated seasons (without a tie) were in 1956, 1962, 1990 and 2023 (wyoming-football.com).

The Doggers earned the right to host two playoff games this year. LFL thrashed Wind River in the quarterfinals on November 1, 57-0. Progressing to the semifinals the following week, the Doggers handily defeated Big Piney, 52-6.

Advancing to the state title game is an achievement in itself. Over the course of the Doggers’ 12-decade history, the team secured a berth at the state title game three times previously, in 1978, 1990 and 2009 (wyoming-football.com).

“While we are disappointed we couldn’t finish the season on top, I can’t ask for a better group of individuals to coach,” coach Brandon Gifford said. “They are selfless, humble and play together. This group of athletes are solid football players but they are even better people. That is the most important and successful part for me to take away as a coach.”

A tale of two halves

A physical first quarter between the Doggers and the Pine Bluffs Hornets ended in a 0-0 deadlock.

The opening kickoff by junior Anthony Arnusch resulted in a touchback. A powerful LFL defense ground Pine Bluffs down, including tackles by juniors Brayden Posten, Colt Brown and Colter McFarlin and pass coverage by Arnusch. A sack by Cooper Smith forced the Hornets to punt.

LFL took possession and seniors Louden Bremer and Kaiden Riggs advanced the ball up the field for two first downs before the Doggers punted.

The Hornets found themselves going nowhere on Pine Bluffs’ ensuing drive with tackles by Smith, McFarlin and Brown. 

Pine Bluffs punted once again and LFL concluded the first quarter in possession.

The Hornets gained possession early in the second quarter and went on to score three touchdowns to establish a 21-0 halftime lead.

Digging deep, the Doggers fought to close the gap in the third and fourth quarters.

Riggs opened the second half with a 51-yard kickoff return. Junior quarterback Brady Cook wound up a pass to senior Brody Roberts for 11 yards and LFL reached the Hornets’ 18-yard line.

Taking the handoff, Bremer broke a tackle and churned forward to Pine Bluffs’ four-yard line. Riggs charged to the one-yard line on the subsequent carry.

Bremer bulldozed the final yard into the end zone for Doggers’ touchdown No. 1. Arnusch kicked the ball between the goal posts and LFL narrowed the Hornets’ lead, 21-7.

Pine Bluffs fumbled on the following drive and Bremer recovered the ball. 

The Doggers offense came up short on the ensuing drive and Pine Bluffs reached the end zone once more, pulling ahead, 28-7.

LFL responded with a sustained drive through the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Doggers reached Pine Bluffs’ 38-yard line on carries by Riggs, Bremer and Brown.

Cook launched the ball to Riggs. Finding an opening, Riggs sprinted into the end zone for touchdown No. 2. Arnusch kicked the extra point and the Doggers whittled down the Hornets’ lead to 28-14.

Tackles by Bremer, Roberts, Posten and Brown stalled out the subsequent drive by Pine Bluffs. The Hornets attempted to pass but Arnusch leapt up for the interception.

LFL gained possession and Cook sent the ball spiraling to senior Elijah Hatch for a 60-yard pass play.

Possession changed hands several times, including a fumble by Pine Bluffs recovered by Smith.

The Hornets eventually found themselves in possession but went nowhere with tackles for loss or minimal gain by McFarlin, Smith and Riggs and Pine Bluffs punted.

Bremer returned the punt to the Hornets’ 36-yard line. Cook delivered a pass to Roberts. Roberts broke tackle and dashed into the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown pass play.

Bremer reached the end zone for the PAT-2 and the Doggers narrowed Pine Bluffs’ lead to a single possession, 28-22, with 2:28 remaining on the clock.

Pine Bluffs managed to retain possession as the clock wound down, gaining the yards for a first possession with 25 seconds left on the clock.

“We made too many little mistakes and couldn’t capitalize when we turned Pine Bluffs over,” coach Gifford said. “I was proud of the effort I saw in the second half – we gave ourselves a chance down the stretch to try to win the game.”

The Doggers are already looking ahead to next season.

“The sun comes up the next day and we have to just keep moving forward and working to be better than we were yesterday,” Gifford added. “I have no doubt these young men will do that and take pride in doing that.”

Stats

The Doggers tallied 247 all-purpose yards, including 102 yards rushing. Riggs posted 57 yards rushing on 16 carries with Bremer chewing up 55 yards on 13 carries.

Cook completed five passes for 148 yards. Hatch totaled 60 yards receiving on one catch. Roberts collected 51 yards on three catches and Riggs 37 yards on one catch.

Arnusch kicked two extra points for the Doggers and totaled two touchbacks on three kickoffs.

Defensively, Smith led the Doggers with 13 tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss. Bremer contributed 10 tackles, Brown eight, McFarlin six, Posten five, Roberts and Riggs three each and senior Ned Nelson one. Bremer and Riggs both tallied one tackle for loss.

Smith and Bremer both recovered one fumble. Arnusch collected one interception and broke up a pass for LFL.