Tigers Buck Kaycee in Quarterfinals

Though they saw their undefeated streak come to an end in the final game of the regular season, the Encampment Tigers appeared to shake off their loss to the Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) Rattlers for the 1A Six-Man Playoffs.

On November 1, No. 2 South-ranked Tigers hosted the No. 3 North-ranked Kaycee Buckaroos. Kaycee came into the quarterfinals with a season record of 4-4 and a conference record of 3-3, compared to the Tigers season record of 6-1 and conference record of 4-1. What may have appeared to be a close game on paper proved to be anything but as Encampment dealt a 45-point loss to the Buckaroos.

“It was great to play at home in front of a great crowd,” said Head Coach Kegan Willford. “Kaycee is big and physical and I thought the team handled that well in the game.”

Early in the game, it did look as if Kaycee might provide some competition to the Tigers. Encampment received the opening kick off with Gunner Knotwell rushing for 53 yards to score a touchdown. A point-after-touchdown (PAT) by Knotwell was blocked. The Buckaroos responded as Taylor Cleveland received a 41-yard pass for a six point conversion. Defense from the Tigers cut short an attempted PAT or conversion, leaving the score tied 6-6.

With the Tigers in possession, Knotwell attempted another touchdown but Kacyee’s defense kept Encampment from their goal line and the Buckaroos regained possession. The Tigers weren’t about to allow the Kaycee to score, again, and kept them on their end of the field. Encampment regained possession within sight of their goal line, resulting in Kannon Gilbert securing another touchdown for Encampment following a 25-yard pass from Knotwell. The PAT from Knotwell was successful and the Tigers led 14-6.

Cleveland scored another touchdown for the Buckaroos after a 38-yard rush, bringing the score close, 14-12. It would be the last Kaycee would score until the 4th quarter. Already having tasted defeat on their home field, Encampment wasn’t about to let it happen, again. Digging their claws into the gridiron, the Tigers put up another 14 points. Knotwell scored another touchdown for Encampment after rushing for 10 yards and followed it with a successful PAT to lead 22-12.

Korbyn Barkhurst was instrumental in getting the Tigers towards their final touchdown of the 1st quarter, receiving a long pass to get Encampment within sight of their goal line. From there Gilbert received a 15-yard pass to score another touchdown putting the score 28-12 in favor of Encampment going into the 2nd quarter.

In the 2nd quarter, the Tigers put up 30 points while leaving Kaycee scoreless.

In the first 15 seconds of the 2nd quarter, Knotwell scored a touchdown after the Buckaroos lost possession due to an error, rushing for 18 yards. The touchdown, along with a PAT, increased the lead 36-12. During the kickoff return, Encampment regained possession of the ball and attempted to score, again. While Kaycee’s defense was strong, it was not impassable as Gilbert ran in another touchdown to lead 42-12 following a 14-yard pass from Knotwell.

Despite an increasing lead, the Buckaroos continued to battle Encampment up and down the gridiron as they tried to score even once before the end of the first half with no success. With the Tigers in possession, an error cost them five yards, but was quickly regained—and then some—with a pass from Knotwell to Barkhurst. At the two-yard line, Knotwell walked in a touchdown. With a successful PAT, Encampment now led 50-12.

Trailing by 38 points, Kaycee attempted to push their way to their goal line, but the Tigers put up a tough defense. As the clock wound down, Knotwell passed for 48 yards to Dashaal Baysinger, who dashed into the endzone for a touchdown. Another PAT and Encampment led 58-12 at half-time.

With the mercy clock now running, the 3rd quarter sped past with both teams duking it out along the gridiron. Kaycee was finally able to score, with a 6 yard pass for a six-point conversion and a 3 yard pass for a one-point conversion to trail 58-19 to the Tigers.

In the 4th quarter, the single score for the Tigers came as Coy Munroe received a pass from Chase Brown and ran into the end zone, putting the final score at 64-19.

Knotwell was the leader in rushing against Kaycee with 180 yards, as well as the passing leader with 160 yards. Gilbert was the receiving leader with 55 yards and was followed by Barkurst with 51 yards and Baysinger with 48 yards.

With their loss to the Tigers, the Kaycee Buckaroos are out of the playoffs. Encampment moves onto the semifinal round, where they will be hosted by the Burlington Huskies.

The Huskies are the defending state champions, ending LSRV’s extensive winning streak, during last year’s 1A Six-Man Championships. Burlington is ranked No. 1 in the 1A South with a season record of 7-1 and a conference record of 6-0.

“We are looking forward to traveling to Burlington,” said Willford. “They are the defending state champions and a powerful team. We will need to be ready to play.”

Kickoff begins at 1 p.m. on November 8. The winner of this game will go on to face the winner of the LSRV Rattlers and Dubois Rams game in the championship round.