SHOSHONI – The Big Piney High School Punchers wrapped the 2025 regular season with a decisive 39-24 conference victory against Shoshoni at an away game on Friday, Oct. 24.
Big Piney’s victory improved the Punchers’ conference record to 4-1 and secured the No. 2 seed for the team going into the first round of the playoffs this Friday.
“All in all, this was a very solid conference regular season – losing only to Greybull,” coach Jeromy Moffat wrote.
Big Piney roared into the first quarter against Shoshoni. An unyielding Puncher defense shut out the Wranglers’ offense in the first half.
On the other side of the ball, a fast and furious Big Piney offense scored on each possession in the opening quarter to pull ahead, 24-0, within the first 12 minutes of regulation. An additional touchdown by the Punchers early in the second quarter resulted in a 32-0 halftime lead.
“Our focus was the running game this week,” Moffat wrote. “We knew we could run on Shoshoni and we were able to establish that running game early in the first half.”
Junior Zavier Clifford paced the Big Piney offense in rushing with nearly 180 yards for four touchdowns.
“When you are able to establish the run, it opens some things up in the passing game,” Moffat added.
Junior quarterback Finley Strong connected several big passes to junior Barrett Denison, including a 49-yard touchdown pass play in the first quarter.
“It was a very solid performance offensively in the first half,” Moffat remarked.
On defense, the Punchers focused on containing Shoshoni’s “spread concept offense,” Moffat said.
“(Shoshoni’s) quarterback is good at eluding pressure and staying composed even in broken plays,” Moffat noted. “In 9-man this is a hard ask defensively. We maintained our pass coverage assignments and I was proud of the heart and determination to keep pursuing their quarterback up front from our D-line.”
Moffat singled out senior Zef Zuniga, freshman Kale Raza and junior Landon Negrete for “chasing (Shoshoni’s quarterback) all over the field.”
The Wrangler offense found its footing in the second half with two touchdowns in the third quarter and one in the fourth to put a dent in the Punchers’ lead before the Big Piney defense closed ranks once again.
“Shoshoni was able to score some points on us in their passing game and we really weren’t able to establish any kind of rhythm offensively moving the ball (in the second half),” Moffat said. “We will clean that up this week as we head into our first playoff game Friday.”
As the No. 2 seed from the 1A 9-man West conference in the playoffs, Big Piney hosts the No. 3 seed from the east, the Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers Friday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m.
“Our focus is now on our early season goal – not being content just making the playoffs but challenging the state each and every year for a deep run in the postseason,” Moffat wrote. “We are familiar with Lingle as this will be the third year in a row we have played them in the playoffs. They are a good team and we will have to play our best. There is nothing better than playoff football and we are excited to host.”
Moffat encouraged the community to come out and pack the stadium to “cheer on our football team.”
Quarter by quarter
The Punchers scored on their first possession of the opening quarter. Carries by Clifford and senior Cale Dauwen advanced the ball to Shoshoni’s 18-yard line.
Clifford took the handoff from Strong and dashed into the end zone. Big Piney converted the PAT-2 for an 8-0 lead.
The Big Piney offense never looked back and went on to score on its next two possessions in the first quarter.
Strong launched the ball to Denison for a big touchdown pass play to the tune of 49 yards. Junior Gerardo Galvan ran the ball into the end zone for the PAT-2.
On Big Piney’s third possession, Clifford chewed up 35 yards to reach the end zone for Puncher touchdown No. 3. Dauwen followed with a run into the end zone for the PAT-2 and Big Piney led, 24-0.
A tenacious Puncher defense prevented Shoshoni from finding any momentum in the first quarter with tackles by junior Jacob Brown, Galvan, Clifford, Zuniga, Denison, Negrete and junior Cache Hall. Raza made a sack on Shoshoni’s second possession while Brown broke up a pass on the Wranglers’ third attempt to score.
Shoshoni opened the second quarter in possession but came up against an ironclad Big Piney defense, culminating in a sack for loss by Raza.
Shoshoni attempted to punt but the snap sent the ball over the Wranglers’ heads.
Big Piney took possession deep in Shoshoni territory and Clifford bulldozed two yards into the end zone on the Punchers’ first play. Big Piney again converted the extra points for a 32-0 lead.
The Puncher D-line grounded down Shoshoni for the remainder of the first half with tackles from Zuniga, Denison, Dauwen, Negrete, junior Jayden Castillo, Strong, Clifford and Galvan. Strong broke up two passes as well.
The halftime scoreboard tipped in Big Piney’s favor, 32-0.
In the third quarter, Big Piney’s defense initially slowed Shoshoni’s advance on the Wranglers’ opening drive with tackles from Negrete, Raza, Strong, Denison, Dauwen, Clifford and senior Saki Meador. Shoshoni ultimately broke through to score its first touchdown.
The Punchers responded on Big Piney’s ensuing drive when Clifford chewed up seven yards to reach the end zone. Negrete kicked the extra point to widen Big Piney’s lead, 39-8.
Shoshoni fired back with a touchdown late in the third quarter and another early in the fourth.
The Punchers’ defense tightened up to shut down the Wranglers’ second possession of the fourth quarter. A sack for loss by Negrete forced Shoshoni to turn over possession.
On Shoshoni’s final drive, Galvan leapt up to intercept an attempted pass by the Wranglers.
The Punchers counted down the final minute of the game in possession and control of the scoreboard.
