Plainsmen Were No Match for Gillette

Dalton Holst threw five touchdown passes to lead the Gillette Camels in a blowout of the Laramie Plainsmen, 51-16, Friday night.

Gillette (8-0) scored on their first four possessions and six of seven in the first half.

After a field goal gave the Camels a 3-0 lead, Holst hit Lane Barbour on a 76-yard scoring pass. Roo Aten followed with a pair of TD runs for a 24-0 lead.

Holst then hooked up with Madden Pikula twice in the final 61 seconds of the half. The first was from 22 yards out. The second was good for 30 yards on the final play of the first half. Gillette led 37-0 after a missed point after touchdown.

Holst then connected with Drayson Hladky on a 77 yard scoring play just 38 seconds into the third quarter. The final Camel TD was a 32-yard strike to Brad Charles with 9:52 left the third quarter.

Laramie (2-6) finally scored with just over nine minutes left in the game. David Corliss ran seven yards for a touchdown. Isaiah Wookey blocked a punt that led to a safety. After the free kick, Laramie drove for another TD, as Jordan Hollopeter scored his first varsity touchdown from two yards out.

Plainsmen head coach Chuck Syverson said, “I’m happy we played hard for four quarters. I think that’s been a trademark of our team for a long time now.”

Gillette gained 424 yards. Holst went 10-of-19 for 348 yards. It was the Camels 14th straight win in the series.

The Plainsmen finished with 252 yards of offense. Taylor Dodd ran for 97 yards and threw for 101 yards with one interception.

Syverson added, “Offensively, we struggled at times. We had some things open, and he (Taylor) didn’t throw the ball particularly well.”

Laramie’s shot at the playoffs comes down to the final game against Kelly Walsh for a third consecutive year. The game will be at Deti Stadium next Friday at 7 p.m.