Rattlers defeat Miners

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Miner High School football team went to Baggs to play Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) Rattler football team and got a taste of why LSRV were state champions last year and are looking to continue their winning ways.

They did at the expense of the Miners.

The Rattlers beat the Miners 53-0.

“LSRV is as good as advertised,” Head coach Zac Scott said. “They have amazing players, coaches and programs.”

Scott said the game gave his players an idea of what they have to do next to prepare for the game against Encampment coming up this Friday at home.

“We have to continue to work hard in practice, to play at the level of teams like the Rattlers and Encampment,” Scott said. “We are a young team and we will get better as we get challenged by these excellent teams.”

Freshman Naythan Antencio completed six out of his 10 passes for 65 yards. Thomas Wagner rushed for 35 yards and got 19 total tackles. Jesse Deegan caught two passes for 30 yards and Hayden Antencio caught two passes for 18 yards.

The Miners played well considering they played a team many believe will win the State Championship again. 

LSRV head coach Jack Cobb agrees the young Miner team is going to get better as they play more.

“Hanna had a lot more young boys the other day so the future is looking brighter for Hanna,” Cobb said. “I told Zac (Scott) and Cliff (Jones) that the other day after the game was over.”

Cobb is pleased with how the team performed on the field and he was able to bring in younger players to play the young Miner team.

“Our JV got over three quarters of playing time in this game, so that was great for our younger boys to get varsity time,” Cobb said. “It meant not a lot of stats for our starters but they did their job and the younger boys played a solid game after that.” 

The stats were good enough.

Zane Matheson passed for two touchdowns. Seth Maxson caught one and Duncan Tanner caught the other. Kannadis Peroulis rushed twice for 97 yards and had two touchdowns. Hadley Myers carried the ball once for 37 yards for a touchdown and Seth Maxson rushed twice for 47 yards and got a touchdown. Alden Jones carried the ball twice for 22 yards and got a touchdown.

Cobb said the team is very strong and deep.

“They compete so well in practice,” Cobb said. “It is fun to be around them.”

Cobb said he feels this year the team plays even stronger as a team. 

“This team wants to get another championship and they are putting in the work to make it happen,” Cobb said. “This is one of those teams where the effort they are putting in, you know it is going to pay off if they just maintain.”

Cobb was happy to give the fans a good homecoming present.

“It really was a beautiful day for a Rattler homecoming game,” Cobb said. “Not because of the win, but because it was one of the wonderful Wyoming warm September days.

HEM will face Encampment on Friday in Hanna and LSRV is hosting Green River JV on Saturday.