Plainsmen Football Season Is Over

The first year of the Ted Holmstrom era ended like it started. Turnovers at key times plagued the Laramie Plainsmen, as their season came to a close last Friday night at Deti Stadium with a 29-18 loss to the Evanston Red Devils. Laramie finished the year at 1-8 and failed to make the playoffs for the 8th time in the last 11 seasons.

Four turnovers by the Plainsmen were difficult to overcome. Evanston turned three of them into points. That included an interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter, as the Red Devils built a 16-6 lead. Laramie pulled within 16-12 at half, but Evanston capitalized on a Plainsmen fumble on the first play of the third quarter. Seven plays later, the Red Devils found the end zone for a 22-12 lead.

Laramie Head Coach Ted Holmstrom knew the turnover bug bit his team again, “I think the interception on the screen.  It was there, the pass just got batted and boom. The other one I think that really hurt was the fumble to open the second half. That was just ugh.”

Laramie followed with a drive inside the Evanston five-yard line, but failed to cash in on 4th-and-goal. After the Plainsmen defense forced a punt, Tyler Loose returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown, and Laramie was back in it, as they rallied within 22-18.

Evanston answered with a 10-play scoring drive that put them ahead 29-18. The Plainsmen tried to rally, but twice turned the ball over on downs and then ran out of time.

LHS out-gained the Red Devils in total offensive yards, 378-to-359, but the four turnovers combined with Evanston’s control of the clock,14 minutes more in time of possession, led to the final out-come, 29-18 Red Devils.

It was the eighth win for Evanston in the last nine meetings against Laramie. The Red Devils also took the lead in the overall series at 12-to-11.

KOWB will have more of a look back at first season of the Ted Holmstrom era later this week.