Bobcats win big, head to playoffs

The Hot Springs County High School Bobcats defeated Newcastle 28-0 on Friday, and in doing so won a spot in the 2A State Football Playoffs.

The Bobcats came out strong in their game against the Dogies on Friday, putting up all of their 28 points in the first half. "We set the tone early and ran the ball well," said coach Rob Anderson.

Sophomore quarterback Cullen Becher only threw the ball twice, but both passes were caught by senior Tyler Cornwell for touchdowns.

The Bobcats held the Dogies scoreless in the second, cruising to a big win that won the hometown Bobcats a spot in the 2A playoffs that start this weekend. The Bobcats will travel to Lovell to take on the first seed Bulldogs.

The Bobcats hosted the Bulldogs at home on Oct. 9, losing a tight game 41-18. The Bulldogs are 7-1 on the season and have won seven straight games.

"We feel good [about the Lovell game]," said Anderson. "We feel like we played them hard in the regular season." Anderson added that the Bobcats have been watching film of the Lovell game and studying their opponent closely.

"We've definitely grown, and we're more comfortable with what we're trying to do."

Friday's win was the most rewarding of the season for the Bobcats, who started the season 0-2, including a 55-0 loss against powerhouse Wheatland, before winning their first two away games against Wright and Burns.

The Bobcats were on a roll and showed their fight against Big Horn during Homecoming on Oct. 2 when they charged out of halftime after letting the Rams score 28 unanswered points in the first half. The Bobcats stopped the Rams on every possession and scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion after each. Although the game ended in favor of the visiting Rams, the Bobcats never gave up and fought to the end.

The next two games, one at Lovell and the other at home against Glenrock, both ended in Bobcats losses, which made Friday's game against Newcastle a do-or-die scenario.

The Bobcats enter the playoffs as the four seed, traveling to one seed Lovell Friday, Oct. 30 with kickoff at 7 p.m.