Carbon County Champions

"I feel so much satisfaction right now," said Jack Cobb, head coach of the Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) high school football team, immediately after the last seconds of the game ticked away making the Rattlers the state champion again. Cobb said, "I am so proud of these boys, these seniors who have won three state championships in the past four years. It is such a tight team and this is what football is all about."

As Cobb finished speaking LSRV fans and players mobbed the popular coach with praise and wishes of congratulations.

The LSRV Rattlers beat the Burlington Huskies 55 to 8 to continue their reign as the 6-man state champions. They have won this honor three times in the past four years, which is no small feat. The year the Rattlers came up short was when the team won its first championship and many starters graduated. Cobb had no seniors the next year and lost in the playoffs to Kaycee.

It is interesting to note LSRV didn't have to face another Carbon County team during the championship round.

Last year the Ratters defeated the Encampment Tigers and the year before it was the Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Miners. 

There must be something in the Carbon County water that produces strong football teams–at least in the water in Little Snake River. 

Burlington was in the game in the 1st quarter and was the first team to score with three minutes left. The Huskies got the point-after-touchdown (PAT). Then Rattler Kannadis Peroulis scored a touchdown and LSRV got the PAT. Going into the 2nd quarter, it was tied, 8 to 8. 

"No doubt, I was a little worried in the beginning when they scored against us," Cobb said. "But I knew this team was capable of shutting them down defensively and I knew our offense was strong."

Cobb was right. The Rattlers didn't let the score stay that way for very long.

With seven minutes left in the 2nd quarter Peroulis scored again. The PAT was good and the score was 16 to 8 in favor of the Rattlers. 

Five minutes were left in the quarter when Burlington fumbled the ball and LSRV recovered. Hadley Myers went in for the touchdown with three minutes left in the 1st half. The extra point was missed and the Rattlers led 22 to 8 going into halftime.

The sun was shining and the weather was getting warmer when the teams went into their locker rooms.

It was a beautiful day for football and the Rattlers were going to take advantage of it. 

Myers got a pass from Zane Matheson and went in for the score. The extra point was good and the score went to 29 to 8.

Two minutes were left in the 3rd quarter when the Rattlers scored both a touchdown and the extra point. Going into the 4th quarter the Rattlers were ahead 36 to 8.

"There were people who said we made it look easy," Cobb said. "It was not easy. The points we got were well earned. It may have looked easy from the stands or on TV, but the boys had to work for their points. The defense had to keep down six seniors who have probably been playing together since 6th grade and they have some serious size."

Peroulis went out near the end of the 3rd quarter. After running the ball down the field to the 5 yard line, he got tangled up with another player and sprained his ankle. Cobb pulled him out and Myers started his production.

"Hadley and Kannadis both had a good day," Cobb said. "It is funny, I kind of leave it up to them who blocks and who rushes. Kannadis had the first half and Hadley had the 2nd half."

Peroulis and Myers were not to be the only Rattlers to score. Seth Maxson grabbed a pass for a touchdown and the score was 42 to 8. The conversion didn't happen.

Burlington fumbled the ball with eight minutes left in the game. Myers took advantage and ran in a touchdown. The PAT was good and the score was 49 to 8. The clock was running and fans of the Rattlers were just waiting to celebrate.

LSRV had one more score left in them. 

The Huskies threw an interception and Myers went in for a score with three minutes left in the game. The conversion failed and the score was 55 to 8.

That would be how the game ended.

The Rattlers were state champions again.

"These boys love to compete in this game," Cobb said. "I am blessed to be able to coach and be along for the ride. They do work hard at winning and I appreciate that."

Cobb pointed out that his two leading rushers, Peroulis and Myers had not fumbled the ball once during the season. His quarterback, Matherson, did not throw an interception all season. 

"So when you look at no interceptions and the top two running backs have no fumbles, you know you are doing something right," Cobb said. "Burlington was good, but just not good enough against this group."

Cobb said his team is already looking towards next year.

"Three championships out of four years," Cobb said. "It is so great those four seniors got to enjoy this accomplishment. Like I have said so many times, I couldn't be any prouder."

His team not only took the state championship for 6-man and ended up ranked number one in the state, nationally, the team is ranked number 15.

Not bad for a little school in Carbon County, Wyoming.