Offensively, we looked sharp. We were in rhythm both on the ground and in the air. We’ve got some explosive players and it’s fun to watch good athletes get to be good athletes. Our defensive line played very, very well. We knew that was a spot we were going to have to improve and grow up really fast. They did a lot of that. Out back end – safeties, DBs and corners – played well and we didn’t give up any huge plays over the top.”

Coach Brandon Gifford

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The Doggers play Niobrara County away Friday at 6 p.m.

LINGLE – The Lingle-Fort Laramie (LFL) Doggers kicked off week one of the fall football season trouncing the Wind River Cougars, 63-14, with plenty of offensive fireworks and a tenacious defense.

Roaring onto the field in the opening quarter, the Doggers established a 21-0 lead in the first 12 minutes of regulation. 

Wind River responded in the second quarter, scoring a touchdown and making a sizeable dent in the Doggers’ lead.

Wind River’s kickoff sailed directly into senior Kaiden Riggs’ arms. Taking the ball, Riggs chewed up the yards, crossing midfield and reaching the end zone to widen LFL’s lead, 34-6, before halftime.

“We only had the ball two times in the entire second quarter,” coach Brandon Gifford noted. “(Wind River) punched one in and it’s 28-6 – they were coming back in the ball game. Kaiden Riggs takes the next kick return to the house. It basically shut Wind River down and changed the momentum for us. Explosive plays like that really gave us momentum and set the tone for the rest of the game.”

The Dogger offense controlled the pace of the game in the first quarter with three touchdowns. Senior Louden Bremer led the effort with an explosive play when he returned Wind River’s punt and sprinted across the field to score the Doggers’ first touchdown.

Junior Brady Cook stepped up as quarterback, completing a touchdown pass to senior Ned Nelson on LFL’s first official drive of the game.

Under pressure during the Dogger’s second drive, Cook delivered the ball to Nelson again for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

Junior Anthony Arnusch topped off first-quarter scoring for the Doggers, sending three good kicks sailing between the goalposts.

Early in the second quarter, the Doggers scored touchdown No. 4 when Riggs took a handoff from Cook and churned up the middle of the field to reach the red zone. Another perfect kick by Arnusch placed the Doggers up, 28-0.

Wind River managed to score in the second quarter before Riggs answered with his kick return touchdown and LFL found itself ahead, 34-6, at halftime.

The Doggers dominated the third quarter and scored three more touchdowns, prompting the mercy clock to start.

On the opening drive of the second half, Riggs chewed up the three remaining yards to score. Bremer reached the end zone to convert two extra points.

Wind River took possession but fumbled the ball. Riggs dove for the recovery, scooped up the ball and swept into the end zone for another Dogger touchdown.

On LFL’s subsequent drive, Cook kept the ball and drove into the red zone for touchdown No. 8.

The Cougars gained possession and attempted a pass. Riggs leapt up and intercepted the ball, running it into the end zone for touchdown No. 9.

Arnusch kicked in three additional points.

Overall, the Doggers tallied 186 yards rushing throughout four quarters. Cook completed four of four passes to Nelson, Riggs and Arnusch for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

“Offensively, we looked sharp,” Gifford said. “We were in rhythm both on the ground and in the air. We’ve got some explosive players and it’s fun to watch good athletes get to be good athletes.”

A solid defense

The Cougars found themselves at a disadvantage before many of their runs even began. Arnusch’s cannon of a leg sent four kickoffs into Wind River’s end zone, resulting in four touchbacks.

A gritty and coordinated Dogger defense greeted Wind River on each drive, holding the Cougars to one touchdown in the first 45 minutes of regulation.

Senior Cooper Smith set the momentum for the LFL defensive line with 18 touchdowns, including five for loss. Smith also forced one fumble and blocked a punt.

Riggs and Bremer each tallied 12 tackles. Riggs forced four tackles for loss while Bremer took down a Wind River runner behind the line of scrimmage. 

Colt Brown totaled nine tackles while senior Colter McFarlin tallied six.

Freshman Lincoln Speckner took down Wind River’s kick returner twice.

“Our defensive line played very, very well,” Gifford said. “We knew that was a spot we were going to have to improve and grow up really fast. They did a lot of that. Out back end – safeties, DBs and corners – played well and we didn’t give up any huge plays over the top.”

LFL plays Niobrara County in Lusk on Friday.

“Lusk is tough,” Gifford said. “It’s going to be a fun night between conference rivals.”