Defense Keys Plainsmen Victory Over Central, 13-7

For the first time in 15 years the Laramie Plainsmen beat Cheyenne Central in two consecutive games with a 13-7 win Friday night at Deti Stadium.

The Plainsmen defense was the story. They registered 13 tackles for loss, including five apiece for Carless Looney and Garrett Worden. They also had four sacks, five pass break-ups and an interception by Idris Elias. Dan Graeff had 2.5 sacks, another tackle for loss and also blocked a punt.

Head coach Chuck Syverson said the defense did a great job.

“We talked about our ends last week, and they continue to really impress me. Garrett had a great game. Dan had a great game, as well. Carless I think played a lot better this week. I think he did a lot better job of filling, and we were filling at the line of scrimmage rather than catching guys 2-3 yards down the field.”

Laramie (2-3) held the Indians to 165 yards offense and that included just 33 yards in the second half.

Cheyenne Central (1-4) scored on their opening possession when Daniel Shumway found Keaton Bell for a 41-yard touchdown pass. Bell caught the ball between two defenders, broke a tackle and took it in.

The Plainsmen scored midway through the second quarter on a half-back pass. Isaiah Wookey tossed it 27-yards to Conor Beeston for the tying touchdown. It was 7-7 at half.

Laramie scored the only points of the second half when Taylor Dodd ran 50 yards for a score on their first possession of the half. The extra point had a bad snap and was blocked.

The next three possessions for the Plainsmen resulted in turnovers, but in the same sequence they blocked a punt, picked off a pass and forced a punt by Central.

The Indians did get the ball once in Laramie territory, but turned it over on downs. Another Central drive began at their own 20-yard line. It lasted ten plays, but a sack by Graeff at the Central 45-yard line ended any threat.

Laramie picked up one first down and ran out the clock. The Plainsmen had not registered back-to-back wins over the Indians since 2000-2001.

Syverson said they’ve talked about getting on a roll.

“These guys know they can be a very dangerous team as we go forward this year.”

Offensively, LHS had only 213 yards, 138 of which came on the ground. The number one passing team in 4A was held to 75 yards through the air. Dodd ran for 94 yards with a TD and a fumble. He threw for only 48 yards and was intercepted twice. On defense, Looney led the way with 27 points, Graeff had 22 and Worden 20.

Syverson added, “Our physicality was 100 times better than it’s been all year.”

The Plainsmen will host Cheyenne South next Friday night in their Homecoming game. Kick-off is slightly earlier at 6 p.m.