We had another very solid performance Friday. Our kids have a great knack for making sure they are prepared to play each and every week. That kind of selflessness will serve us well moving forward as we gear up for the playoffs.”

Coach Brandon Gifford

Up Next

The Doggers host Wind River for the first round of the playoffs on Friday, November 1 at 6 p.m.

LINGLE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers football team proved beyond any doubt it is the No. 1 team in the 1A 9-man East Conference with an overwhelming 52-0 victory against the Saratoga Panthers in Lingle on Friday, October 25.

An explosive Dogger offense scored six touchdowns and one field goal in the first 24 minutes of regulation to establish a commanding 45-0 lead at halftime. A tenacious LFL defense held Saratoga to only 13 yards rushing throughout the game and forced a loss of five yards in the fourth quarter.

The Doggers’ triumph against Saratoga marked the team’s sixth conference victory and eighth overall win over the course of an epic, undefeated regular season. LFL is the only team in the statewide 1A 9-man division to post an undefeated regular-season record in 2024.

The Doggers enter the playoffs as the undisputed top seed in the east and will host the No. 4 seed from the west, Wind River, on Friday, November 1 for an opportunity to advance to the semifinals.

“We had another very solid performance Friday,” coach Brandon Gifford said. “I thought our kids came out and continued to play the way we have played all year long. Our kids have a great knack for making sure they are prepared to play each and every week. That kind of selflessness will serve us well moving forward as we gear up for the playoffs.”

Kickoff between the Doggers and Wind River is 6 p.m. 

“We are excited for the playoffs and will need to make sure we are as prepared as we always are for Wind River,” Gifford added. “The kids continue to get better and continue to just keep playing football. If we can do that, we can continue to have success.”

Four exceptional quarters

The LFL defense set the tone during Saratoga’s opening drive by shutting down the Panthers offense. A powerful kickoff by junior Anthony Arnusch resulted in a touchback, forcing Saratoga to start its drive at the Panther’s own 20-yard line.

Tackles by senior Louden Bremer, junior Colt Brown and Arnusch held Saratoga to only a few yards and the Panthers punted.

Gaining possession, Bremer took a handoff from junior quarterback Brady Cook on the first play of LFL’s ensuing drive. Bremer sprinted through an opening in the Panthers defense and rushed 51 yards into the end zone for Dogger touchdown No. 1. A good kick by Arnusch placed LFL ahead, 7-0.

The Dogger defense showed no mercy on the Panthers’ subsequent drive. Another touchback by Arnusch placed the Panthers at their own 20-yard line. Stops from Bremer, Brown and senior Cooper Smith prevented Saratoga from advancing a few yards beyond the original line of scrimmage and Saratoga punted.

Bremer returned the punt and dashed 40 yards up the field and into the end zone for LFL’s second touchdown. Arnusch kicked in the extra point and the Doggers led, 14-0, with 7:22 remaining in the first quarter.

Freshman Lincoln Speckner wrapped up Saratoga’s kickoff returner on the Panther’s 13-yard line. Saratoga found itself going nowhere with tackles by Cooper Smith, Brown, Bremer and senior Ned Nelson.

LFL regained possession and steadily marched down the field with carries by senior Kaiden Riggs, Brown and Cook. On the final play, Riggs charged four yards into the end zone for touchdown No. 3. Arnusch made good on another kick and the Doggers led, 21-0, as the second quarter began.

A tackle for no gain by Brown resulted in Saratoga punting on the Panther’s opening drive in the second quarter.

Taking possession, Cook launched the ball to senior Brody Roberts for a 34-yard pass play. A second pass between Cook and junior Brayden Posten placed LFL at Saratoga’s 24-yard line. Bremer carried the ball to the 13-yard line for a first down.

Riggs took the handoff, swept up the right and into the end zone for touchdown No. 4. Arnusch kicked his fourth extra point and the Doggers led, 28-0.

On Saratoga’s subsequent possession, Cooper Smith stopped the Panther’s runner behind the line of scrimmage and Saratoga found itself punting once again.

LFL gained possession with Brown advancing the ball to Saratoga’s 11-yard line on two carries. Cook sent the ball spiraling to Roberts for an 11-yard touchdown pass play. Arnusch kicked the ball between the goal posts, placing the Doggers up, 35-0.

The LFL defense promptly shut down Saratoga on the Panther’s ensuing drive. A tackle for loss by freshman DeAngelo Gann forced Saratoga to punt. 

The Doggers scored again on their next possession. Nelson completed a 24-yard pass play from Cook for a touchdown. Arnusch kicked in the extra point, widening LFL’s lead, 42-0.

Tackles by Brown, Gann, Speckner and sophomore Kaleb Smith held Saratoga to a few yards on the Panther’s subsequent drive.

Arnusch capped off the Dogger’s final drive of the first half with a 47-yard field goal and LFL headed for the locker room with an overwhelming 45-0 halftime lead.

LFL opened the second half with touchdown No. 7. Cooper Smith took the handoff from Cook and bulldozed up the center of the field and into the end zone. Arnusch kicked in his seventh extra point and LFL led, 52-0.

The Doggers’ substitute players took over on offense in the third and fourth quarters, with substantial gains by senior Elijah Hatch, sophomore Tyler Smith and freshman Dutch Ogburn.

The LFL defense proved ironclad in the second half, shutting down Saratoga in the third and fourth quarters, including tackles by Riggs, junior Colter McFarlin, Lincoln Speckner, Gann and Kaleb Smith.

LFL tallied 246 yards rushing against Saratoga. Bremer set the pace for the Doggers with 72 yards on three carries. Riggs rushed for 66 yards on six carriers, Hatch 58 yards on 10 carries, Brown 28 yards on four carries and Cooper Smith 12 yards on four carries.

Cook completed eight passes for 125 yards. Roberts caught two passes for 44 yards and one touchdown. Nelson  caught two passes for 52 yards and one touchdown.

Arnusch kicked seven extra points, two touchbacks and one field goal.

Bremer led in tackles with nine. Brown posted eight tackles, Riggs six, Nelson five and Cooper Smith four. Bremer, Nelson, Kaleb Smith, Gann and Cooper Smith each totaled one tackle for loss.