Central Continues Their Dominance Over Laramie, 39-18

The Cheyenne Central Indians scored the final 21 points of the game and beat the Laramie Plainsmen 39-18 Friday night at Deti Stadium in Laramie.

It was the 16th consecutive victory in the series for the Indians over the Plainsmen dating back to 2001.

Hayden Humphrey returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

The first came with the game tied at 18 and on the second play of the fourth quarter. He picked off Laramie quarterback Taylor Dodd’s pass and returned it 97 yards for a score.

After Laramie was forced to punt, Central’s next drive was capped by T.J. Wiltanger’s 10-yard t-d run.

The Plainsmen went back down the field, but Humphrey intercepted Dodd again and returned it 87 yards to provide the final margin.

Laramie head coach Chuck Syverson said,

“When you get two pick sixes, that makes a big difference in the ball game, but to me that really wasn’t the determining factor. I thought we just got off to a real slow start today (Friday) for whatever reason; a little flat.”

LHS trailed 12-0 in the first quarter and 18-7 at half. Andy Pearson’s second touchdown run from 9-yards out and a Colton Wostenberg career-long 44-yard field goal tied the game at 18 with 29 seconds left in the third quarter.

Syverson added, “I gotta give the kids a lot of credit. They battled back; came all the way back; got the field to tie it up, so I felt pretty good about where we were at there.”

It looked like Laramie was poised to take the lead when Carless Looney stripped Central’s Tayton Montgomery and Laramie’s John Gallegos recovered at the Indians 19 with 23 second left in the third quarter.

After they reached the five yard line and had first and goal to start the fourth, Laramie was stuffed on the first play of the final period. That’s when disaster struck, and the game turned on the first pick six.

The Plainsmen out-gained the Indians in total offense 389-to-364. Pearson was responsible for 206 total yards. He ran for 142 on 26 carries. Pearson also caught five passes for 64 yards. Tristan Eickbush led the defense with 29 points, which included a blocked field goal. Carless Looney added 27 defensive points.

Central ran for a season-high 236 yards. They came in averaging 96 per game.

Syverson added, “They went to that double tight (two tight ends) formation, and I think we were a little short with our front on that… I think that was probably the biggest thing looking at what they did.”

Next up for Laramie will be their annual Homecoming game, as the Plainsmen will host the Cheyenne South Bison Friday night at Deti Stadium. The game will kick-off at 7 p.m.