It was a great day for football in Ranchester Friday afternoon, and the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies and their fans enjoyed every minute of it as the Grizz ran their season record to 3-0 with a 28-0 victory over the Tongue River Eagles.


“I was pleased with the way we went over there and battled in the heat for four quarters,” coach Pat Winland said. “We had to earn every one of our scores, which was good. That will help us in the long run.”


The only real “easy” score of the game was the first touchdown of the game, which was set up by a Tongue River fumble. The Eagles were pinned deep on their second series of the game thanks to a 53-yard punt by Korey Hocker.


After quarterback Andrew Orchard was hit in the backfield by Rocky sophomore tackle Kaleb Hoyt, the Eagles faced a third and 16 from the Rocky 10. Orchard was hit as he handed the ball off, and Hoyt pounced on the loose pigskin. Carlos Hernandez powered up the middle for six yards to the 1, and Adam Alvarado scored on the next play. Jeff Sanders’ PAT was blocked, but the Grizz led 6-0 with 5:52 to play in the first quarter.


In the second quarter the Grizz put together a masterful drive, covering 91 yards on a variety of passing and running plays. Quarterback Austin Leonhardt completed five of six passes during the drive and even drew the Eagles offsides on a key fourth-and-three situation near midfield.


During the drive Leonhardt hit Luis Jurado, Hernandez, Alvarado and Hocker for gains, then found Hernandez out of the backfield to the right side, and the senior dashed down the sideline and dove into the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown pass.


Leonhardt hit Hocker for the two-point conversion, and the Grizzlies led 14-0 with 7:50 to play in the first half.


“That was our first really long, sustained drive of the year,” Winland said. “We were able to mix passing and running. That was one of Austin’s best games to date. He seems to be getting more accurate as we go through the season. He’s spreading the ball out to all of his receivers, and even his backs.


“That’s a key for us. Obviously, they can’t key on Korey. Everybody needs to be a threat on offense. It’s nice to have those skill players to take advantage of.”


The Grizzlies drove to the TR six on the next series but stalled. The Eagles couldn’t drive the ball out of their end of the field and had to punt. A 33-yard punt left the Grizz in good shape, and they drove 38 yards to score in four plays. Leonhardt found Randall Mann down the left sideline for a 22-yard gain to the 16, then hit Mann over the middle on a flanker screen, and the speedy senior took it to the house for a touchdown. With the PAT the Grizz led 21-0 with 1:28 left in the half.

A fumble led to Rocky’s final touchdown in the fourth quarter. Orchard connected with Ryan Dunn on a short pass. Dunn caught the aerial but was hit hard by Mann and Hernandez, coughing up the ball. Guy Jones recovered the fumble at the TR 14.


On the next play, Alvarado got outside right and tight-roped his way down the sideline for a touchdown. Rocky led by the final score of 28-0. Winland substituted heavily after that.


“Adam used a nice stiff arm and then the tightrope,” Winland said. “There was good blocking out front.”


Leonhardt completed 11 of 24 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. Orchard was 8-16 for 44 yards for the Eagles.


Hocker caught four passes for 56 yards, Mann two for 38 yards, Hernandez two for 32, Jurado two for 22 and Alvarado one for 13.


The Grizz gained 79 yards on the ground as Alvarado carried 12 times for 43 yards, Hernandez 11 for 28 yards, Mann two for four yards, Jones one for three and Logan Friedly one for one. TR had 59 yards rushing on 38 carries.


On the other side of the ball, Winland praised Hoyt, who stepped in at nose guard for the Grizz when Sanders got hurt a couple of games ago. Hoyt finished with 17 defensive points on five assisted tackles, two unassisted tackles, one tackle for a loss and one fumble recovery. He was named the Wyoming National Guard Defensive Player of the Week.


Hernandez had 14 points as a linebacker, with five assisted tackles, three solo tackles and a tackle for a loss. KJ Blackburn, Hocker and Sean Thompson each had 11 defensive points.

The Grizzlies will host the Riverside Rebels at 7 p.m. Friday. The Rebels pasted the Grizzlies 51-8 in Basin last season en route to the state title. They’re 1-2 to start the 2008 season but have played a tough schedule.


The Rebels shut out the Dubois Rams 46-0 in week one this season, then fell 31-6 at Big Horn. The Rebs were routed by the top-ranked team in Class 3A, Kemmerer, 51-6 Friday night in Basin.


“They’re the defending champs and they’re coming to our place,” Winland said. “It’s a big game for both teams as far as the conference goes. They’ll be tough. They’ll be looking for a win.”


Winland said the key to slowing the Rebel offense is containing quarterback Matt Craft, noting, “He’s their playmaker. He’s a threat to run or pass.”


Craft missed the Kemmerer game with a sprained ankle, but could return to action Friday.


Winland noted that Jeff Sanders is back after surgery on the meniscus tendon in one knee. He was injured against Burlington, missed the Big Piney game and came back to play Friday at Ranchester.