LARAMIE — For the fourth consecutive game, the Rock Springs Tiger football offense scored only one in a loss.
This time, the Laramie Plainsmen defeated Rock Springs 23-7.
Though the Tiger offense failed to score, the defense limited their opponents to the fewest points they had allowed this season. The defense was clearly on point early on, holding the Plainsmen to a field goal on their first drive.
Laramie shaved four minutes off the clock and took a 3-0 lead on their first possession with a 27-yard kick from Weston Ennist.
Whether on purpose or not, Laramie returned their own kickoff at midfield and immediately sent their offense back out. They marched down the field, threatening to score again, but a fumble prevented them from doing so. With three minutes left in the first quarter, Rock Springs launched their first offensive possession from their own six-yard line.
The Tigers nearly crossed midfield, but on the opening play of the second quarter, Rock Springs quarterback Kason Cahill intercepted Laramie’s Tyler Gale. He returned it to the Rock Springs 35-yard line, and the Plainsmen scored in just one play.
Junior quarterback Dax Parvin fired his sole touchdown throw of the night, an acrobatic 45-yarder to Isaac Kirsch, to put the Plainsmen ahead 10-0.
Due to the kickoff going out of bounds, Rock Springs began their next drive on their own 35-yard line. Despite some penalty difficulties, running back Boston James scored an eight-yard touchdown run.
James remains the first Tiger to score a touchdown this season, and prior to Carter Price’s PAT, he was the only Rock Springs player with any points at all.
James’ physicality was a highlight for Rock Springs, as it has frequently been thus far this season. Most of the time, it required a posse of Plainsmen to bring down the junior while the ball was in his possession.
The Tiger defense, energized by the score, drove Laramie into a three-and-out punt in an attempt to maintain momentum. The offense, however, responded with their own punt, leaving them trailing 10-7 at halftime.
Rock Springs had a dreadful start to the second half of the game, with 40 yards of penalties against them. They were forced to punt, but got a break when the Plainsmen were flagged for roughing the kicker, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Laramie 30-yard line.
After the Tigers squandered seven minutes of game time, the Plainsmen needed only three to score again. The drive was completed with a 58-yard touchdown run by Boone Frude, putting the home team ahead 17-7.
The Tigers exploited the final two minutes of the quarter to go within four yards of the end zone. The Plainsmen put up an excellent defensive stand, forcing Rock Springs into a field goal try, which Price missed from just over 20 yards out.
When the Laramie offense took over on downs, it only took one play for Frude to take it all the way home. His second touchdown of the night ran for approximately 90 yards on the ground, helping him finish with 141 rushing yards for the game.
Rock Springs had one more scoring opportunity before the game ended. They began their final drive in enemy territory before taking to the skies again.
Cahill intended his receiver in the end zone, but Laramie’s Jackson Bailey intercepted it in double coverage, saving the touchdown and allowing the Plainsmen to run out the clock as time expired for their second win of the season.
The setback drops the Tigers’ 2025 record to 0-4, but they have a chance to win next week. They will face the Cheyenne South Bison, who have suffered blowout losses in all four weeks, three of which were shutouts.
Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. on Friday, September 26. There is no doubt that Rock Springs has the stronger defense; it is only a matter of whose offense can put their foot on the throttle first.
