TMS football wins at home

The Thermopolis Middle School football team stayed busy playing three games in the past week. 

On Thursday, they played Worland’s 7th and 8th grade teams then Burlington’s middle school team on Saturday in a game that featured primarily the TMS B team and some players needing work at other positions to help us create more depth.

During Thursday’s games, the TMS boys ran up against very tough Worland teams, giving both a valiant and a resilient effort but lost both games. By the second quarter of the 8th/A game, the entire B team backfield and second string quarterback were playing as well as half of the B team offensive line.  The TMS boys were banged up but the boys showed a tremendous amount of grit in coming back to score and tighten things up in the second half of both games. The games provided a tremendous amount of developmental playing time against one of the boy’s toughest opponents this year.  

Some of the TMS boy’s initial issues with depth were exposed in the Worland game. That gave the team an opportunity to really work on those issues while also getting other players healthy and it showed in their game against Burlington.

“I couldn’t have been more proud of our B team as they highlighted the tremendous amount of growth that they have experienced on the field this year. Aside from the score, we had the opportunity to get a catch for every tight end on the team except one (A new goal),” said Coach John Corbin. He added, “We were able to get a lot of players significant playing time even though we only played one game. Both of our groups on offense were able to score and move the ball efficiently on Burlington as well.” 

Riley Shaffer had a nice touchdown pass to Logan Shumway for the first touchdown by a wide receiver in two years. TMS defense and special teams did very well as the defense held Burlington to a total of two first downs all game and were able to shut them out as well for a final score of 24-0. 

“Our special teams narrowly missed a PAT, which we have been working very hard on and also created and recovered three opponent turnovers on kickoff as well.  I’m very proud of our team this year and the way we have bounced back from adversity this past week,” said coach Corbin.

The TMS boys play Greybull at home starting at 9:30 a.m. at the high school football field.