BIG PINEY – The Big Piney High School Puncher football team stepped up to the plate against the Rocky Mountain High School Grizzlies, securing a 17-6 conference victory in front of the Homecoming Week crowd on Friday, September 27.

Big Piney established a 14-6 lead at halftime. A tenacious Puncher defense shut out Rocky Mountain in the second half while the Punchers topped off scoring with a field goal.

The Punchers performed well against a “big and physical” Grizzlies’ varsity squad, head coach Jeromy Moffat said.

“I’m very proud of the win against Rocky Mountain,” Moffat added. “I challenged the kids this week to not be okay with being average. They all stepped up on both sides of the ball. This is a win that could set the tone for us going into the rest of our conference gauntlet.”

Big Piney ran into adversity early in the week as the team scrambled to find a new starting quarterback and prepare him in just three days.

“(Sophomore) Finley Strong stepped in and managed the game and did an excellent job,” Moffat said.

Senior Caden Clifford and sophomore Zavier Clifford set the pace for the Puncher offense. Caden Clifford tallied 186 yards rushing on 30 carriers with Zavier Clifford churning up 156 yards on 14 carriers.

“Offensively, we dominated on the ground,” Moffat remarked. “The Clifford brothers – Caden and Zavier – both had big days. All this is a compliment to the job our big fellas did up front. We go how they go, and I thought they dominated their front six all game long.”

The Big Piney defense held the Grizzlies to 130 yards.

“Our tackling was a gang-style defense all game long,” Moffat said. “I’m proud of (sophomore) Cache Hall, (junior) Zef Zuniga and (senior) Ben Ferguson up front for taking on those blocks all day and getting some sacks on the quarterback.”

A solid game

Following a scoreless first quarter, Rocky Mountain put the first points on the scoreboard with a touchdown in the second. The Punchers shut down Rocky Mountain’s attempt to convert extra points and the scoreboard favored the Grizzlies, 6-0.

The Puncher offense battled back on Big Piney’s subsequent possession with a long, sustained drive across the gridiron.

On the final play, Strong handed the ball off to Caden Clifford. Caden Clifford bulldozed up the middle into the end zone to score Big Piney’s first touchdown. A good kick by Negrete placed the Punchers up, 7-6.

An unyielding Puncher D-line shut out Rocky Mountain on the Grizzlies’ next possession, including a tackle for loss by Ferguson.

Rocky Mountain punted and Big Piney regained possession. Zavier Clifford took the handoff from Strong and sprinted across midfield, leaving Rocky Mountain defenders in the dust as he raced into the end zone for a 60-yard touchdown run.

Negrete made good on another kick and Big Piney led, 14-6.

The Puncher D-line prevented Rocky Mountain from scoring on the ensuing drive, consisting of tackles by Ferguson, Caden Clifford, Strong and Hall and pass coverage from sophomore Gerardo Galvan.

The Punchers headed for the locker rooms ahead, 14-6.

A sack for loss by Hall forced Rocky Mountain to punt on its opening drive of the third quarter.

Big Piney took over and commenced a sustained drive that went into the fourth quarter and culminated in a field goal by Negrete to place the Punchers up, 17-6.

The Big Piney D-line shut out Rocky Mountain on the Grizzlies’ next possession, including a sack behind the line of scrimmage by Zuniga.

Big Piney’s defenders hammered away at the Grizzlies on Rocky Mountain’s second fourth-quarter drive, including tackles by Zuniga, Ferguson, Strong and junior Saki Meador. Coverage by Galvan broke up two attempted passes by Rocky Mountain.

Big Piney took possession and wound the clock down.

The Punchers travel to Greybull on Friday, October 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

“This is a big game at Greybull for their Homecoming,” Moffat wrote. “We are excited to get up there and play. Games like this are what it’s all about.”