Eighth grade team undefeated

After seven weeks of competition, both the seventh and eighth grade Powell Middle School football teams emerged as conference champions.

The eighth grade team completed an undefeated season on Saturday, while the seventh grade team had only one loss — to Laurel, Montana.

“The seventh grade team is a big physical team, five offensive lineman at 175 pounds or more, which would wear opposing teams out,” said Zack Coombs, seventh grade head coach. “The loss to Laurel was a turning point on our season. After the loss, we learned how to tackle low, run hard and block to the whistle.”

Excluding the Laurel game, the Cubs’ six opponents scored a combined total of only 20 points while the seventh graders scored a total of 161 points.

“To beat Sheridan, which is in Class 4A, is a testament of how much this team improved and learned to play the game of football,” Coombs said.

The head coaches for both seventh and eighth grade have worked together over the last three years to make the middle school football program more competitive. The middle school used to play teams only in the Big Horn Basin such as Greybull, Basin and Rocky Mountain. Now they play Riverton, Lovell, Sheridan, Cody, Worland, Lander and Laurel.

Last year as seventh graders, the eighth grade class only lost one game and that was to Worland. This year, Powell not only beat Worland, but every other team as well.

“The defense really stepped up and played hard nose football all year,” said Bryan Bonander, eighth grade head coach. “The boys played with a ton of heart and passion each and every day at both practices and games.”

The eighth grade team only gave up five offensive touchdowns all year long. The opposing teams only scored a combined total of 42 points while Powell scored 137 points.

“The eighth grade football team had an outstanding season. We constantly talk about playing your best football at the end of the season and that is exactly what they did,” said Bonander. “The coaches couldn’t be more proud of this group of young men.”

The eighth graders are also coached by Nate Urbach. The assistant coaches for seventh grade are Juston Carter, Stan Hedges, and Dylan Hutzenbieler.

Results from the seventh grade season:

Powell 21, Riverton 6

Laurel 24, Powell 0

Powell 45, Lovell 0

Powell 7, Sheridan 0

Powell 27, Cody 6

Powell 21, Worland 8

Powell 40, Lander 0

Results for the eighth grade season:

Powell 22, Riverton 14

Powell 19, Laurel 6

Powell 8, Lovell 0

Sheridan — canceled due to rain

Powell 35, Cody 0

Powell 12, Worland 8

Powell 41, Lander 14