By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
After being on the road for the first two games of their season, the Lone Peak High School Big Horns played the Ennis High School Mustangs under the lights of the Big Horn Colosseum Friday, Sept. 19. The relatively young Big Horn team faced stiff competition from the Mustangs, and fell 66-12.
The squad’s new Head Coach, Clevan Thomas is intentional about the team achieving its potential.
“There’s a high ceiling for these guys, but it takes a little bit more coaching, so we’re just trying to get our feet under us,” Thomas said. He’s also working on building up the confidence of the team’s older players as the eighth graders get more experience on the field.
The more senior players’ contributions were on display in an eventful first quarter. The Mustangs led 20-0 with five minutes left after three touchdowns by seniors Emry Veland, Wyatt Williams as well as a pass from senior Brandon Foss to senior Barrett Garland. On the 17-yard line, the Big Horns snapped for their first down and this time, it clicked.
Senior Lucas O’Connor received the ball, faked to the right and began barreling down the left side of the field. Assisted by blocks by junior Kenan Masonic and senior Boone Jorgenson, O’Connor didn’t stop running until he reached the Mustangs end zone, scoring a Big Horn touchdown.
The Big Horn side of the scoreboard would remain at six as the Mustangs tacked on points through the first and second quarter, closing out the first half with a 50-6 score.
In the second half, players dug deep to slow the Mustangs, including an effort from Big Horn freshman Bryson Cluff to work the ball up the field when his team was in possession. Ultimately, the squad struggled to score, despite numerous nail-biters near the end zone.
Coach Thomas noted that incomplete passes and misreads made a difference, despite a strong showing when the Big Horns were defending.
“It’s the little things. And details matter in this game,” Thomas said. As the second half continued, the Mustangs scored two more touchdowns via Williams and Veland, bringing the score to 66-6 after successful two-point conversions.
On fourth down with nine minutes left in the game, sophomore Jens Biggerstaff delivered the ball from the 20 yard line to the 45, right in the hands of O’Connor who ran it to the end zone for the final touchdown of the game.
Biggerstaff shared that the result of the game was tough, especially against nearby rivals. He noted that the squad needs to focus its energy on the upcoming homecoming game and that they can learn from an experienced coaching staff.
“Everybody’s out there giving it 100,” Biggerstaff said. “And we have some of the greatest coaches in the state of Montana.”
Jorgenson noted that the team struggled with giving up yards when the Mustangs executed runs, but otherwise the defense was disciplined when it came to passes. The team is made up of five seniors, one junior, three sophomores and nine freshmen.
“I mean, obviously, in previous years, we’ve always relied on the juniors and seniors to make plays,” Jorgenson said. “But this year, especially with how many little upperclassmen we have, we really have to rely on our younger guys.”
He trusts that wins are in the cards for the Big Horns, a sentiment shared by Thomas and Biggerstaff. Up next, they face Park High School on Friday, Sept. 25 to close out a week of homecoming sports and celebrations.
