Broncs best Bolts to move on at state

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Wind was the name of the game in Cheyenne as the Jackson Broncs began state championship play Thursday afternoon. When it was at your back, you might could do something. When it was blowing 35mph in your face, not so much.

Jackson 3, Thunder Basin 1

If there is one team in the state that can play in adverse weather conditions, it’s Jackson. Their ball possession, short passing game does not depend on which way the wind blows. The Broncs started the contest with the Bolts with the stiff breeze at their back and took a few shots with a long ball pass now and then, but it was the patient, ball-on-the-ground passing that got them through the bluster.

The Jackson boys would need a dose of that patience as they had to feel a sense of urgency when 25 minutes with the wind in the 1st half they had no goals to show for the advantage. And it got worse.

Pressing a little to get a go-ahead goal, the Broncs were rattled when the Bolts scored first after a sky-high ball fluttered in the gusts and was misjudged by a Broncs defender. His header was off, then he went down and senior midfielder Cade Ayers was off to the races, splitting the defense and scoring with 14:35 to play in the opening half.

Jackson looked stunned.

But the Broncs responded the way they have all year, they dialed up the heat and took the game to the Bolts in their third.

It took a while but the pressure finally paid off in a fluke goal when Thunder keeper Carl Gray appeared to have secured a high crossing pass but Rutley Heinemann—whose motor never quits—came flying in from the backside and jarred the ball loose and just barely across the goal line for the 1-1 tie with 8:32 to play in regulation.

The Jackson bench breathed a sigh of relief nearly audible in Teton County.

Overtime is ‘Teddy Time’ and the team’s leading scorer showed up in a big way to seal the victory. Opler, who had been quiet for the pretty much the entire game, found himself on the receiving end of a corner kick pass and banged it home left-footed in the only spot the shot could go—2 inches over Ayers outstretched hand and 2 inches under the bar. Huge goal to put the Broncs up in the first of two 10-minute overtime sessions.

Jackson got another insurance goal from Opler to snag the 3-1 win in OT and move on.

Next up

The Broncs (16-1) move on to face the Rock Springs Tigers (12-6) who won a nailbiter OT shootout 0-0 (4-3) against Laramie Thursday. Jackson defeated Rock Springs twice during the regular season by 3-1 and 4-0 scores. Gametime is 4pm Friday.