Tigers take down Dubois

As the Encampment Tigers approach the end of their regular season, they added yet another conference win to their record while on the road. Following the cancellation of an away game against the Ten Sleep Pioneers on October 10, the Tigers were eager to hit the gridiron as they were hosted by the Dubois Rams on October 17.

In their first varsity season, the Tigers have only had two losses with the most recent being against the Meeteetse Longhorns on October 3. While in Dubois, Encampment dealt a loss to the Rams as they went 39-28.

“After not playing a game for two weeks we started slow and made some mistakes,” said Kegan Willford, head coach of the Encampment Tigers. “With that, our team played with a lot of intensity and effort. Our team wants to be known as a very physical team and I feel like we demonstrated every bit of that against Dubois.”

The first half of the game against Dubois saw the Rams and Encampment butt heads with both teams only scoring 8 points during the 1st quarter and both going scoreless in the 2nd quarter. In the 1st quarter, a 37 yard pass from Kagan Gilbert to Koye Gilbert ended with a touchdown and 6 points for Encampment. A point-after-touchdown from kicker Michael Anderson put the Tigers up to 8. While Encampment led 8-2, a 60 yard rush from Dubois put the two teams tied going into the 2nd quarter.

“In the second half we were able to get the offense going and put 31 points on the board. Our defense played better in this game,” Willford said. “Our special teams gave up one big play that kept things closer in the second half.”

The majority of those 31 points came just after half-time. In the 3rd quarter, the Tigers put 19 points on the board beginning with a 1 yard rush from Dalton Peterson that put Encampment up 14-8. The Rams, however, responded with a touchdown return to tie the score, again. Caysen Barkhurst received a 44 yard pass from Peterson to put the Tigers up 20-14 only for Dubois to respond with a touchdown of their own. Barkhurst then rushed 45 yards to add another touchdown for Encampment with Peterson completing a conversion to go 27-20 as they headed into the 4th quarter.

In the final quarter, the Tigers added another 12 points as Peterson scored two touchdowns for Encampment. The first touchdown followed a 29 yard rush and the second touchdown followed a 28 yard rush. Both touchdowns put Encampment ahead of the Rams 39-20.

Dubois was able to secure a touchdown and a point-after-touchdown for 8 points in the 4th quarter, but otherwise remained scoreless against the Tigers.

Barkhurst led the team in rushes with 113 yards and was followed by freshman Quade Jordan with 81 yards and Peterson with 73 yards.

“As a team, we need to continue to work on limiting the big plays of our opponent. That will be something we will continue to emphasize in practice,” said Willford. “Overall, I thought our team gained valuable experience playing in a tight game. Dubois was fighting really hard to keep their playoff hopes alive in this one and we were able to come away with the win."

The final regular season game for Encampment will be a home game as they host the Burlington Huskies on October 24. According to Willford, there are three scenarios that could play out in which either Encampment will be seeded in the playoffs or will be unable to make into playoffs.

If Encampment takes down the Huskies this weekend, the Tigers will secure the No. 3 seed against the Hulett Red Devils. If the Tigers lose to the Huskies and the Farson-Eden Pronghorns beat the Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) Rattlers, Encampment will be seeded No. 4 and play in Kaycee. Finally, if Encampment loses to the Huskies and LSRV beats the Pronghorns, the Tigers will be out of the playoffs.

The Encampment Tigers will host the Burlington Huskies at 3 p.m. on October 24 in Encampment.