PINEDALE – The Pinedale High School Wranglers concluded the 2025 season with a final conference game against the Thermopolis Bobcats on the road on Friday, Oct. 24.
The Wranglers gave their all over the second half of the game in a determined effort to close a 21-0 first-half lead established by Thermopolis. Pinedale scored a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters while the Wrangler D-line dug in to shut out the Bobcats in the second half.
When the final buzzer sounded, Pinedale was short by about one possession with Thermopolis posting the win, 21-12.
“It can sometimes be a lot to ask players to play as hard as they have all year when lining up against the No. 3 team in the state (3A) for a game that has no impact on postseason play,” coach Mike Gregory wrote. “But our guys once again showed the same level of resilience they have played with throughout the second half of the season.”
The Bobcats came out with a 60-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. Two additional drives by Thermopolis succeeded in reaching the end zone in the second quarter.
“A quick score by Thermop early in the first quarter caught us by surprise, but our guys just kept working,” Gregory noted. “Even an unfortunately timed turnover that led to a short Thermop drive and touchdown in the second didn’t stop these boys. They just kept on working.”
Determined to end the season fighting, the Wranglers regrouped at halftime and returned to the gridiron in the third and fourth quarters with a vengeance.
Pinedale got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when senior quarterback Ian Rigo sent the ball to fellow senior Ryder Siefkes for an eight-yard touchdown pass play.
The Wrangler offense continued to battle into the fourth quarter with Pinedale reaching the end zone on a final two-yard rush by Rigo.
The Wrangler D-line turned up the pressure in the second half to shut out the Bobcats offense in both the third and fourth quarters.
“Coming out at half down 21 – a lot of teams would be shaky at best, but our guys have truly come to believe in themselves and each other,” Gregory said. “They quickly turned the momentum Pinedale’s way. Offensive production came from a solid run-pass combination with our seniors leading the way. The Pinedale defense stepped up and kept Thermop scoreless in the second half.”
Rigo completed seven passes throughout the game against Thermopolis, tallying 103 yards passing for one touchdown. Rigo also scored one rushing touchdown.
Junior Logan Emery rushed 10 yards on four carries and caught two passes for 49 yards.
Senior Kolbyn Jaquez posted 19 yards rushing on two carries and was on the receiving end for three passes and 25 yards.
Seniors Sergio Duarte-Villa and Landon Fornstrom led the Wrangler D-line against the Bobcats with 15 defensive points each. Emery and Siefkes both collected 12 defensive points.
The Pinedale defense limited Thermopolis’ passing game to 43 yards over four quarters.
The Wranglers demonstrated significant improvement in 2025 against tough 2A opponents this fall.
Pinedale opened the regular season with an impressive three-game winning streak. The Wranglers crushed Rawlins, 40-6, on September 5. Pinedale went on to defeat Kemmerer, 50-15, on September 12 before beating Worland, 13-7, on September 19.
Gregory praised the leadership and dedication of the seniors throughout the season – Rigo, Siefkes, Jace Stone, Jaquez, Duarte-Villa, Quincy Mika, Daxton Zook, Tyson Brannon, Fornstrom, Boeh Gamble and Brayson Boyer.
“The seniors served as an excellent example for our younger guys to follow,” Gregory remarked. “They displayed a ‘no quit’ attitude that Pinedale football will need to build on during the off-season when we start spring work for the 2026 season.”
