PINEDALE – With time running out in the third quarter of Pinedale's football game against Worland, the Wranglers made some moves to try and tie the game at 14.

Wyatt Phelps completed a short pass to Senddey Gutierrez to convert on fourth down and later tossed another first-down pass to Raven Que. Nearing Worland's red zone, Tyler VanEtten busted through the line, made a pair of tacklers miss at the 10-yard line, and scampered into the end zone with what appeared to be the game-tying score.

An illegal formation penalty, however, negated the touchdown and Pinedale ended up turning the ball over on downs.

Worland then marched down the field and scored touchdowns on its next two drives to extend its lead and eventually win the game, 27-7.

"I felt like that game was within our reach the entire time," Pinedale Head Coach Mitch Espeland said. "If we make a catch here or there, I truly believe we win that game."

Pinedale made plenty of good plays to stay within striking distance of Worland.

Gutierrez caught a ball in stride for 22 yards and finished that drive by making a diving catch in the back of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown. That score cut Worland's lead to 14-7 in the second quarter.

Joey McCulloch made some big defensive plays, including ripping the ball away from Worland's quarterback to cause a fumble and give Pinedale the ball at mid-field. McCulloch and Garett Schamber also combined forces to make a tackle for a loss on fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line that kept Worland from scoring early in the first.

Dallon Cox also recovered a fumble and Isaac Loftus had two big tackles for losses that helped end two Worland drives.

"Our defense played very solid the whole night," Espeland said.

While Pinedale had trouble running the ball, they had some success through the air.

"We couldn't get a lot going on the run and were forced to make throws," Espeland said. "Wyatt did a solid job of putting the ball in spots where are receivers could make plays. Senndey Guttierez, Raven Que, and Mati Berghammer all had some great catches in the game."

The Wranglers, however, failed to capitalize on some good opportunities and had some costly turnovers.

On Worland's first possession of the game, VanEtten almost caught a Worland pitch in stride, but managed to knock the ball down for Carson Stinson to recover at the Worland's18-yard line. Pinedale, however, fumbled on its first play from scrimmage to give Worland the ball back.

Pinedale also dropped a pass at the 1-yard line while trailing 7-0 in the second quarter. Phelps underthrew his receiver, helping him shake his coverage while coming back for the ball, but the receiver had a hard time adjusting and the ball bounced off his hands just outside the end zone.

Pinedale's most costly mistakes, however, might have been its fourth-quarter turnovers.

After Worland scored to take a 20-7 lead with 7:12 left in the fourth, it picked off a Pinedale pass on the following possession. Worland scored on that drive and then, on the ensuing kick off, it booted the ball short where no Wranglers were standing and managed to dive on the ball to recover what amounted to be a long, onside kick.

Pinedale got the ball back once more after that, but its final possession ended when Berghammer made sliding catch for nine yards on fourth down, just shy of the first-down marker.

With the non-conference loss, Pinedale finished its season with a 2-6 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the 2A West.

"Our season was up and down," Espeland said. "We definitely showed our age at times with some mistakes, but we also showed what a great team we can be next year with the players we will have."

Worland improved to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in 3A West Conference, snagging a spot in 3A playoffs.

Pinedale also had seven seniors on its team this year.

"I'm proud of this senior class," Espeland said. "Raven Que had never played football and turned out to be a huge contributor for us. Jake Harber and Colten Taylor played big leadership roles for us. Dallon Cox, Ike Loftus, Jeremey Adams and Carson Stinson all were large parts of our offensive and defensive lines."