Struggling Plainsmen Head North to Take on the Bolts [VIDEO]

The long time spent on the road finally ends on Friday but with a very tough test for Laramie, as they play at No. 2 Thunder Basin in Gillette.

Laramie (1-5) dropped their fourth straight last week at Rock Springs.

Thunder Basin (5-1) won their first three before a loss at top-ranked Central. They’ve come back with a pair of blowout wins.

Plainsmen head coach Clint Reed talked with KOWB’s David Settle about moving forward after last week, what their focus is, and scouting a tough Bolts team in the video above.

Senior Isaac Sell continues to be the focal point for Laramie. He leads Class 4A in rushing yards per game with 168.7. Sell enters this game off a career-high 278 yards last week at Rock Springs. He’s fourth in all-purpose yards at 216.7 yards per game and the only non-QB among the top-5 in that category in 4A. Sell has scored 10 touchdowns this year.

Senior Gavin Kopp continues to lead the LHS defense with 13.3 defensive points per game. That’s tied for seventh in Class 4A. Junior Graham Jacques ranks 13th at 12.2 defensive points per game.

Thunder Basin sports a very balanced attack that averages 215 yards per game on the ground and 221 through the air. Both rank third in Class 4A. The Bolts average a 4A-leading 42.5 points per game. They are led by senior running back Jaxon Pikula, who is second behind Sell at 152.2 rushing yards per game. He’s also caught 13 passes for 269 yards. Pikula has 14 total touchdowns. QB Ryan Baker is the second-leading passer in 4A. He has thrown for 1,326 yards with 13 TDs and five interceptions.

Defensively, Thunder Basin is anchored by linebacker Michael Coleman, who is fourth in 4A with 15.5 defensive points per game, while defensive lineman Brody Richardson is 10t.

The Bolts have won the first three meetings in the series. They’ve scored 50 or more points in each of the last two.

Kick-off is at 6 p.m. in Gillette.

KOWB (AM 1290) will broadcast the game live. Join David Settle and Aaron Lozano for live coverage starting at 5 p.m. You can also listen through the KOWB app, online, or through smart speakers.

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