Mustangs Play Spoiler for Plainsmen Homecoming

The top-ranked Natrona County Mustangs showed why they're the team to beat in class 4A this season. They ruined the Laramie homecoming with a 56-0 beat down of the Plainsmen at Deti Stadium Friday night. The Mustangs scored eight times in the first half, including twice on defense and easily stayed undefeated on the season.

Natrona (8-0) returned a fumble on the third play of the game for a score and also had an interception return for a t-d. They scored on their first five offensive possessions, took advantage of six first half turnovers by Laramie and led 53-0 at halftime. It was the seventh consecutive victory for NC in the series against the Plainsmen.

Field position favored the Mustangs almost all game long. Seven of their 10 drives started in Laramie territory. Their longest touchdown drive was 54 yards, and that was their first offensive series of the game.

Halfback Josh Flanigan scored three times, with two rushing touchdowns of 27 and 14 yards and had a 17-yard t-d catch on a screen pass. Flanigan finished with 89 yards rushing on just six carries. Quarterback Brecken Biggs accounted for four scores. He had three touchdown passes of 17, 15 and 18 yards, including two to Logan Wilson, and also added an 11-yard touchdown run.

The two defensive scores saw the Mustangs' Connor True scoop up a fumble by Laramie Quarterback Grant Holmstrom and return it six yards for a touchdown. Austin Ducello added a 21-yard interception return for a score early in the second quarter. A fourth quarter field goal of 23 yards by Lane Hunsicker capped the scoring.

The stats weren't overwhelming for NC, particularly because of the way they dominated field position. Still, Natrona had 310 yards of total offense, which included 216 rushing.

The bigger stat was that the Mustangs defense shutdown the Plainsmen most of the night and held them to a mere 79 yards of total offense, 68 of which came via the pass.

Laramie (1-7) had two chances to score, but were stopped on 4th and goal at the NC 1-yard line in the third quarter and reached the Mustang 10-yard line as time expired at the end. It was the fourth straight loss for LHS.

The Plainsmen return to action on Friday, October 19 in their regular season and home finale. Laramie takes on the Evanston Red Devils. Kick-off on Senior Night is set for 7 pm. You can listen to Plainsmen football on KOWB (AM 1290). David Settle and VerDon Hoopes will call the action from Deti Stadium with the broadcast starting at 5:30 pm.