LANDER FINISHES UNDEFEATED CONFERENCE - WINS 3A EAST TITLE
(Randy Tucker - Lander Journal)
Lander completed a perfect conference season with a 32-21 win in Washakie County Friday night surviving a late rally by the Worland Warriors. The championship is the first for the Tigers since an undefeated season back in 1948.
The Tigers now host Powell in opening round playoff action next Friday. Powell handed Lander their only loss of a 7-1 season 17-7 in the second game of the year.
Lander junior running back Eli Mazurie matched Al Bundy’s performance against Polk High with four rushing touchdowns on the game. Mazurie scored on runs of four, one, 56 and five yards.
Mazurie finished with 159 yards on 25 carries with Jack Sweeney gaining 117 on 14 rushes. Ty Massey was four for six throwing the ball for 53 yards with one interception.
After a scoreless first period the Tigers found the end zone on the first play of the second quarter on a four-yard power run by Mazurie. Matisse Weaver’s kick split the uprights and Lander led 7-0 after an 11-play drive.
Worland answered quickly on a 20-yard pass from Rudy Sanford to Luke Mortimore. Mortimore went up one-on-one with Sweeney and made a perfect play on the ball for the score.
Lander took the ensuing kick and methodically marched up the field. Runs by Mazurie, Sweeney, Massey and Julian Guina moved the ball effectively, but the big play came on a 32-yard pass from Massey to Conor Carey that set the ball on the Worland one-yard line. Mazurie powered in from the one for the go ahead score, but Weaver’s kick failed.
Worland took the ball late in the half and on four straight completions by Sanford the Warriors moved the ball inside the 10-yard line with less than a minute to play. Sanford stretched for the goal line marker but fumbled the ball and the Tigers recovered at the three yard line. Lander ran out the clock for the 13-7 lead at intermission.
Lander wasted little time in the third period, setting up on their 37-yard line after the opening kick of the third period. On the third play of the drive, Mazurie broke into the open and outran the entire Worland defense on a 56-yard scamper that put the Tigers ahead 19-7. The two-point conversion kick failed. Worland was ineffective on their next position, punting the ball away after three short runs.
The Tigers went into a bend but not break mode for the remainder of the third period.
Massey had great protection on a pass play before tossing the ball long up the field. Devon Mercado played centerfield and intercepted the pass, taking it back to the Lander 46. Mortimore broke a 28-yard run inside the 20, but fumbled two plays later at the 15 and the Tigers recovered.
Lander ran inside the tackles twice before Jack Sweeney broke into the secondary on a 74-yard scamper that gave Lander a 25-7 lead. Worland gambled late in the third period with a fourth and four attempt that ended short at their own 38. Lander picked up only two yards on the next three plays but Fawson’s punt was classic, pinning the Warriors at the eight. Worland continued their hopes for an inside straight, rolling the dice again on a fourth-and-two play from their own 17-yard line. Sanford’s pass intended for Mortimore was incomplete and the Tigers took the short field.
Sophomore Zach Larvie gained five-yards on first down, Mazurie picked up a yard and the Tigers faced a third-and-four at the 10. Mazurie read his blocks well but ended up short at the eight-yard line. On a fourth-and-one, Massey took the ball and rolled to the five on the quarterback sneak for a first and goal. Three plays later Mazurie scored his fourth touchdown, powering in from the five-yard line.
A little lightning in a bottle struck for the Warriors on the ensuing kick with Mortimore racing nearly the length of the field on a 97-yard kickoff return that closed the gap to 32-14. Worland tried the onside kick but John Fawson recovered for the Tigers at the 48 with 4:29 left in the game. An inspired Worland defense stymied the Tigers but Fawson is among the best punters to ever kick a ball in Fremont County and he hit another classic, sailing the ball 46-yards before it bounced out-of-bounds at the 10.
Worland’s fire continued with senior Jaime Luna breaking a 73-yard run to the Lander 17 on his first carry of the game.
Sanford found Devon Mercado on the next play, cutting the score to 32-21 with Sanford’s kick.
Sanford attempted another onside kick but Massey covered it well at the 41-yard line.
Lander stacked a tight offensive set with Mazurie gaining 12-yards on first down to keep the clock running. Runs by Sweeney and Massey picked up another first down to run out the clock.
(Randy Tucker - Lander Journal)
Lander completed a perfect conference season with a 32-21 win in Washakie County Friday night surviving a late rally by the Worland Warriors. The championship is the first for the Tigers since an undefeated season back in 1948.
The Tigers now host Powell in opening round playoff action next Friday. Powell handed Lander their only loss of a 7-1 season 17-7 in the second game of the year.
Lander junior running back Eli Mazurie matched Al Bundy’s performance against Polk High with four rushing touchdowns on the game. Mazurie scored on runs of four, one, 56 and five yards.
Mazurie finished with 159 yards on 25 carries with Jack Sweeney gaining 117 on 14 rushes. Ty Massey was four for six throwing the ball for 53 yards with one interception.
After a scoreless first period the Tigers found the end zone on the first play of the second quarter on a four-yard power run by Mazurie. Matisse Weaver’s kick split the uprights and Lander led 7-0 after an 11-play drive.
Worland answered quickly on a 20-yard pass from Rudy Sanford to Luke Mortimore. Mortimore went up one-on-one with Sweeney and made a perfect play on the ball for the score.
Lander took the ensuing kick and methodically marched up the field. Runs by Mazurie, Sweeney, Massey and Julian Guina moved the ball effectively, but the big play came on a 32-yard pass from Massey to Conor Carey that set the ball on the Worland one-yard line. Mazurie powered in from the one for the go ahead score, but Weaver’s kick failed.
Worland took the ball late in the half and on four straight completions by Sanford the Warriors moved the ball inside the 10-yard line with less than a minute to play. Sanford stretched for the goal line marker but fumbled the ball and the Tigers recovered at the three yard line. Lander ran out the clock for the 13-7 lead at intermission.
Lander wasted little time in the third period, setting up on their 37-yard line after the opening kick of the third period. On the third play of the drive, Mazurie broke into the open and outran the entire Worland defense on a 56-yard scamper that put the Tigers ahead 19-7. The two-point conversion kick failed. Worland was ineffective on their next position, punting the ball away after three short runs.
The Tigers went into a bend but not break mode for the remainder of the third period.
Massey had great protection on a pass play before tossing the ball long up the field. Devon Mercado played centerfield and intercepted the pass, taking it back to the Lander 46. Mortimore broke a 28-yard run inside the 20, but fumbled two plays later at the 15 and the Tigers recovered.
Lander ran inside the tackles twice before Jack Sweeney broke into the secondary on a 74-yard scamper that gave Lander a 25-7 lead. Worland gambled late in the third period with a fourth and four attempt that ended short at their own 38. Lander picked up only two yards on the next three plays but Fawson’s punt was classic, pinning the Warriors at the eight. Worland continued their hopes for an inside straight, rolling the dice again on a fourth-and-two play from their own 17-yard line. Sanford’s pass intended for Mortimore was incomplete and the Tigers took the short field.
Sophomore Zach Larvie gained five-yards on first down, Mazurie picked up a yard and the Tigers faced a third-and-four at the 10. Mazurie read his blocks well but ended up short at the eight-yard line. On a fourth-and-one, Massey took the ball and rolled to the five on the quarterback sneak for a first and goal. Three plays later Mazurie scored his fourth touchdown, powering in from the five-yard line.
A little lightning in a bottle struck for the Warriors on the ensuing kick with Mortimore racing nearly the length of the field on a 97-yard kickoff return that closed the gap to 32-14. Worland tried the onside kick but John Fawson recovered for the Tigers at the 48 with 4:29 left in the game. An inspired Worland defense stymied the Tigers but Fawson is among the best punters to ever kick a ball in Fremont County and he hit another classic, sailing the ball 46-yards before it bounced out-of-bounds at the 10.
Worland’s fire continued with senior Jaime Luna breaking a 73-yard run to the Lander 17 on his first carry of the game.
Sanford found Devon Mercado on the next play, cutting the score to 32-21 with Sanford’s kick.
Sanford attempted another onside kick but Massey covered it well at the 41-yard line.
Lander stacked a tight offensive set with Mazurie gaining 12-yards on first down to keep the clock running. Runs by Sweeney and Massey picked up another first down to run out the clock.