The Ringnecks took on the Ellis Railroaders last Friday (9/18) and won in dominate fashion. Ellis found early momentum after scoring on their opening drive with a massive passing touchdown, giving them all the confidence they could want. However, the Ringnecks Offense did not shy away, and instead took the challenge head on and could not be stopped. Head Coach Travis Desbien noticed weaknesses in Ellis's run defense, and once this weakness was exposed, the Ringnecks attacked it. Assistant Coach Kaleb Atkins got his chance to show off his impressive run defense scheme. Coach Atkin's defense also showed improvement against the pass, and is continuing to work on it. The lineman for the Ringnecks also showed huge improvement in this game. Coach Vince Walker has worked with these players extensively and they are proving they can hold their own. All of the coaches put their stamp on this dominant win.
While every player made a huge difference in this game, there was a couple that stood out. Senior Slade Rohr helped lead the Ringnecks in every aspect of the game, but especially in the rushing game. Rohr had 245 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground for the Ringnecks. He also dominated on special teams, adding 113 return yards and an impressive 75 yard kick return touchdown. Defensively for the Ringnecks, Rohr added 23 tackles, with junior Briggs Born right behind him with 19 tackles. The defense's other standout player came from the defensive line. Junior Blake Harmon totaled 14 tackles, with 2 of those being tackles for loss. These exceptional players went above and beyond any expectations put on them.
I also had the chance this week to sit down and talk with Head Coach Travis Desbien. I asked him how he feels the season has gone so far.
"At 2-1, I am pleasantly surprised, how every has come together at a lot of new positions. However, the games going forward are the most important entering district play, so I hope we can get better down the stretch."
I then asked him how he feels about tonight's game against Sublette.
"The trip to Sublette is quite long, so I hope we can stay focused and play well. I think Sublette has some pretty good athletes and should give us a great game, and I hope we get a chance to let some younger guys play, if the opportunity presents itself."
The Ringnecks will play the Sublette Larks tonight, Friday, September 25th at 6:00 PM. The last time these two teams met was when Hill City defeated Sublette 50-22 in the 2024 Playoffs. They hope to recreate this success, and improve their record to 3-1. Go Ringnecks!
Article By: Mitchell Presley