WyoPreps Game of the Week: Shoshoni at #4 Big Piney [VIDEO]

In a bonus Game of the Week from WyoPreps, we head to the Class 1A 9-Man West Conference for the first time this season for a tilt that will help determine the top three seeds in the upcoming playoffs. Shoshoni visits No. 4 Big Piney on Saturday at 1 p.m. The host Punchers are 4-2 on the season and lead the conference at 4-0. The Wranglers enter at 5-2 overall and 3-1 in league games.

Shoshoni won their game last week, 32-6 over Rocky Mountain. Big Piney lost to Rich County, UT, 21-0, in a non-conference game. With Greybull’s win over Wyoming Indian on Thursday night, this game will decide how the Punchers, Wranglers, and Buffs will be seeded in the upcoming playoffs.

WyoPreps spoke to Big Piney head coach Jeromy Moffat and Shoshoni head coach Tony Truempler. Moffat said his team has overcome some recent adversity and is starting to figure out how to play. He expects a physical game from the Wranglers, and knows their execution is a huge key. Truempler said his young group has continued their overall improvement, says line play has been key for them, says they have to contain Caden Clifford to have a shot to win and offers a few other keys.

Big Piney has the No. 2 rushing attack in 9-man football at 308 yards per game. Shoshoni is No. 4 against the run allowing just 166 yards per game. It’s a strength-on-strength matchup. The Wranglers are a little more balanced on offense with 188 rushing yards and 102 passing yards for 290 per game. They average 28.9 points per game compared to 32.8 for Big Piney. Defensively, the Punchers give up 268 yards and 16.8 points per game, while the Wranglers allow 281 yards and 19.9 points per game.

Caden Clifford leads Big Piney and the 9-man ranks at 192.8 rushing yards per game. He has 15 rushing TDs and 1 touchdown reception. He also leads the Punchers at 15.4 defensive points per game.

For Shoshoni, Carson Kisling is averaging 120.1 yards per game on the ground with 9 TDs. Braxton Mills is the quarterback and throws for 78 yards per game. He has 7 TD passes to 3 interceptions. Quinton Clark is the top target. He has 16 catches for 346 yards and 7 scores. Defensively, Kisling averages almost 24 defensive points per game for No. 2 in 9-man football this year.

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Saturday’s game in Big Piney is the ninth meeting on the gridiron. According to the series history at wyoming-football.com, the series is tied at 4 wins apiece. The Punchers won the 2023 game, 26-7. The first meeting was in 1985.

The kick-off is at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Puncher Stadium in Big Piney.