Pinedale Online!
www.PinedaleWyoming.com
www.PinedaleOnline.com

Visitor's Guide to Pinedale, Wyoming
www.PinedaleOnline.com

Home | Calendar of Events | Photo Gallery | Local Businesses |

Pinedale Online > News > November 2004 > State Champions!

State Champs. Photo by Pinedale Online.
State Champs
The new state champs paraded the trophy around town on Big Piney fire engines.

Winning Touchdown. Photo by Pinedale Online.
Winning Touchdown
#40 Seth Linn crosses the goal line to win the game.

Incomplete Pass. Photo by Pinedale Online.
Incomplete Pass
#32 Roby McNeel breaks up a Mt. View pass.
State Champions!
Big Piney Punchers 14, Mt. View Buffalos 10
by Clint Gilchrist & Dawn Ballou
November 6, 2004

The Big Piney Punchers became Wyoming State 3A Football Champions for 2004 with an improbable come from behind 65 yard drive capped by a 17 yard touchdown pass from Levi Greenwood to Seth Linn with only 9 seconds left on the clock. Not sure how Seth got open on the corner, but every fan on both sidelines saw him and held their breath waiting for that football to come down in what seemed like slow motion. On the previous play with only 26 seconds remaining in the game, Levi Greenwood appeared to be trapped behind the line on a roll out, but flicked a 13 yard pass just before stepping out of bounds to Brett Moffat, surrounded by 3 Buffalo defenders, on 4th down and 4 yards to go to keep the drive and game alive.

High school football does not get any better than the State Championship game between the Big Piney Punchers and the Mt. View Buffalos played on Saturday, November 6, 2004 at Big Piney. It was a hard fought game between two evenly matched teams that both played well until the final buzzer. In a game with only 4 scores, the lead changed hands 4 times, and neither team ever led by more than 4 points. The underdog Buffalos played well enough to win, but Big Piney made the big plays when they needed to.

In a defensive struggle, the first half ended tied at 0 to 0 with both teams missed field goals. The Buffalos blew a great chance to score with a first down inside the Puncher 10 yard line, but fumbled the ball to the Punchers with 2:14 left in the half. After gaining a couple first downs the Punchers gave the opportunity right back on a 4th down with a botched punt. With only 13 seconds on the clock and no time outs, the Buffalos were not able to score from inside the 5 yard line with only one play.

Both offenses made their mark in the 3rd quarter. The Buffalos drove the length on the field, but had to settle for a field goal with a little over 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter after false start penalty on 4th down on the 3 yard line. On the following possession Big Piney drove the length of the field. Ryan Cain scored on a 1 yard touchdown run with 2:49 left in the 3rd quarter to give Big Piney a 7 to 3 lead. On the following possession Mt. View drove down the field and scored a touchdown on a short run on the first play of the 4th quarter to take the lead 10 to 7.

The defenses took control of the game again in the 4th quarter. Neither team was able to muster much offense on each of their next two drives, but time was running out for the Punchers. They were able to get the ball back for the third time in the 4th quarter on their own 35 yard line with 2:26 to go in the game, but only had one time out, were down by 3 points, and had 65 yards to go. With a hurry up offensive combining running, passing and an interference penalty, they changed the defensive trend of the 4th quarter and moved the ball down the field, but still found themselves with 4th down and 4 yards to go near the 30 yard line with only 26 seconds left. There was only enough time for those two plays that will long be remembered by the Puncher faithful.

High school football does not get any better than this!

Story by Clint Gilchrist. Photos by Clint Gilchrist and Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online



Related Links
  • BigPiney.com - More pictures of the game.
  • Big Piney High School Football - Pictures, players, coaches, scores & stats

  • First Touchdown. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    First Touchdown
    #22 Ryan Cain scores Big Piney's first touchdown.

    Town Victory Lap. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Town Victory Lap

    Pitch Left. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Pitch Left
    #21 Parker Greenwood gets yards on Big Piney's first touchdown drive.

    Puncher Cheerleaders. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Puncher Cheerleaders

    Happy Dad. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Happy Dad
    John Linn celebrates victory after his son Seth scores the game winning touchdown.

    Stiff Arm. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Stiff Arm
    #32 Roby McNeel fights off a stiff arm to make the tackle.

    Puncher Wall. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Puncher Wall
    A wall of Punchers catch a buffalo for loss of yards.

    Buffalo Run. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Buffalo Run
    #15 Brett Mofatt makes a tackle after a long run saving a touchdown.

    It hurts to lose. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    It hurts to lose
    Mt. View players and fans were devastated by the last second loss.

    Big Gain. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Big Gain
    #12 Levi Greenwood with a big gain during the first Puncher touchdown drive.

    Last play of the game. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Last play of the game

    Buffalo Punt. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Buffalo Punt
    Punchers force Mt. View to Punt setting up the winning drive.

    Fumble Recovery. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Fumble Recovery
    Punchers force a fumble to keep Mt. View from scoring in the first half.

    Injury Timeout. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Injury Timeout
    #66 Miles Krieger was shaken up, but returned a few plays later.

    Buffalo Field Goal. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Buffalo Field Goal
    Punchers are not able to block Mt. View field goal.

    The stands were full. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    The stands were full

    Time Out. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Time Out
    Coach Esklesen leaves the huddle after a time out

    Big Piney fans. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Big Piney fans

    The fans were hyped. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    The fans were hyped

    Past Champs. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Past Champs
    Memebers of past Big Piney state champion teams

    Final score. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Final score

    Pom Pom Fan. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Pom Pom Fan

    Dads cheer on. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Dads cheer on

    Packed truck of fans. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Packed truck of fans

    Surging the field. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Surging the field

    After the game. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    After the game

    State Championship winners. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    State Championship winners

    Loading onto the firetrucks. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Loading onto the firetrucks

    Buffalo mascot. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Buffalo mascot

    We're Number 1. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    We're Number 1

    Winning team. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Winning team

    Big Piney High School. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Big Piney High School

    No1. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    No1
    Pinedale Online > News > November 2004 > State Champions!

    Pinedale Online!
    Pinedale Online! PO Box 662, Pinedale, WY 82941
    Phone: (307) 367-6763 Fax: (307) 367-2864

    Office Outlet in Pinedale, 43 S. Sublette
    E-mail:support@pinedaleonline.com

    Copyright © 2004 Pinedale Online. All rights reserved.
    Pictures and content can not be used in whole or part without permission.