YODER –  The Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Doggers football team continued to dominate the 1A 9-man East Conference with a 55-13 victory against the Southeast High School Cyclones in Yoder on October 10.

The Cyclones threw the first punch with a sustained drive resulting in a touchdown in the first quarter. LFL responded with a touchdown and an extra point and the physical first quarter ended with the Doggers up by a single point, 7-6.

Four touchdowns by the Doggers in the second quarter placed LFL up, 34-6, at halftime.

LFL controlled the scoreboard in the third quarter, but Southeast kept fighting. 

Determined to end the game on a positive note, the Cyclones regained the initiative in the fourth quarter, culminating in a touchdown and extra point.

LFL coach Brandon Gifford told the Telegram he was “extremely happy” with the Doggers’ performance.

“The (Doggers) responded well when Southeast drove the ball and scored on their opening drive,” Gifford added. “I thought we showed great physicality at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The kids just keep playing football and it’s exciting to watch them. They keep getting better and work hard to improve each week.”

The Cyclones started out strong in the opening quarter, Southeast coach Shawn Burkart said, before yielding the initiative in the second.

“We took the opening drive down the field for a score but then giving up the kickoff return for a touchdown turned the tide and we could never get it back,” Burkart added. “Lingle has two great running backs that we did not have an answer for. (Senior quarterback) Ayden Desmond had a good game throwing the ball, but Lingle did a good job of not letting him out of the pocket and running for yards. We need to regroup and work better in areas that need to be addressed. It’s that playoff push now and we need to get some wins.”

First quarter

The Cyclones offense launched a coordinated drive to open game, advancing the ball 80 yards into the end zone.

Senior Carter Blevins moved the ball into Dogger territory on several carries. Senior quarterback Ayden Desmond completed passes to Blevins and junior T.J. Moats for positive yards. 

Desmond launched the ball to Moats in the end zone for a touchdown, placing Southeast ahead, 6-0.

The Doggers responded immediately with a pick six by senior Kaiden Riggs. A good kick by senior Anthony Arnusch pulled the Doggers into the lead, 7-6.

A touchback by Arnusch placed Southeast at its own 20-yard line on the ensuing possession. Tackles by senior Louden Bremer and Riggs forced the Cyclones to punt.

Regaining possession, LFL moved the ball across the gridiron with carries by Riggs, Bremer and junior Colt Brown.

Second quarter

LFL continued its drive into the second quarter. Riggs took a handoff from junior quarterback Brady Cook and charged eight yards into the end zone. Arnusch kicked the extra point and the Doggers led, 14-6.

Southeast made positive gains on the subsequent possession when carries by senior Kannon Tippetts and Moats resulted in a first down. The Cyclones attempted to pass, but coverage by Arnusch resulted in Southeast punting.

The Doggers scored on their next possession when Bremer sprinted 46 yards through Southeast’s territory and into the end zone. Arnusch sent the ball between the goalposts, widening LFL’s advantage, 21-6.

A solid Dogger defense hammered away at Southeast when the Cyclones took possession, including a tackle for loss by senior Cooper Smith and junior Colter McFarlin. 

Gaining possession again, the LFL offense succeeded in reaching the end zone when Riggs bulldozed the ball over the goal line. Arnusch made good on another kick and LFL led, 28-6.

The Southeast offense made positive plays on its following drive, highlighted by a pass between Desmond and Tippetts for a first down.

A tackle by McFarlin slowed the Cyclones’ momentum and pass coverage by Bremer and junior Brayden Posten forced a turnover on downs.

Bremer scored the Dogger’s fifth touchdown on LFL’s ensuing possession, zigzagging through an opening in the Cyclones D-line and rushing 40 yards into the end zone. 

Southeast junior Liam Haas blocked LFL’s attempt at an extra point.

The Dogger defense shut out Southeast’s final attempt to score in the first half, culminating in a sack behind the line of scrimmage by Smith.

The halftime score stood at 34-6 in favor of the Doggers.

Third quarter

The Doggers opened the second half in possession. Riggs capped the drive off with a 42-yard dash into the end zone for LFL touchdown No. 6.

The Cyclones’ special teams once again blocked LFL’s attempt at the extra point.

Tackles by McFarlin, Smith and Riggs stopped Southeast’s subsequent drive. 

The Doggers gained possession and the LFL offense drove the ball deep into Southeast’s territory with carries by Riggs and Bremer. A pass by LFL fell incomplete due to coverage by Southeast senior Ayden Shimic.

Despite tackles by Cyclones senior William Knowlton, LFL approached the goal line. Brown charged up the middle to score LFL’s seventh touchdown. Bremer reached the end zone for two extra points and the Doggers led, 48-6.

Fourth quarter

The Doggers scored touchdown No. 8 early in the final quarter. Bremer took the ball from Cook and rushed into the end zone. A good kick by Arnusch placed LFL ahead, 55-6.

Southeast battled back on the ensuing possession with an 80-yard drive culminating in a touchdown.

Blevins carried the ball toward the 50-yard line and a pass to Tippetts resulted in a first down. Desmond delivered a pass to Moats for another first down.

A pair of passes between Desmond and Ayden Shimic moved Southeast into Dogger territory. Desmond kept the ball on the next play. Blevins churned up yards on three carries and another pass to Ayden Shimic placed Southeast within 15 yards of the goal line.

Desmond threw the ball to junior Chase Sauer in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass play.

Southeast junior Beaux Shimic kicked the ball between the goal posts for the extra point.

LFL stats

The Doggers picked up 363 yards rushing against the Cyclones. Bremer set the momentum for the LFL offense with 157 yards on 13 carries. Riggs tallied 142 yards on 12 carries. Brown rounded the count out with 31 yards on five carries.

Arnusch posted  five touchbacks.

On defense, Smith once again filled out the stat sheet with 13 tackles, including three for loss and two sacks. McFarlin totaled nine tackles with two for loss. Brown made 11 stops with one for loss. 

Southeast stats

On offense, the Cyclones tallied 103 yards rushing, led by Blevins with 81 yards on 16 carriers. Desmond posted 42 yards on 13 carries.

In the air, Desmond completed 16 passes for 159 yards with Moats catching six passes for 76 yards. Tippets caught three passes for 45 yards.

Defensively, Desmond set the pace with 15 tackles. Blevins totaled six tackles (one for loss) with five apiece by Sauer and Tippetts. Sauer forced one fumble.