Utah Cobras-38, Big Sky Avalanche-7
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Boulder, MT- Jefferson High School Field

 

In their RMFL debut, the Big Sky Avalanche took the field in Boulder to take on the Utah Cobras.  The game would not turn out the way the Avalanche anticipated, as the Cobras started strong and never looked back.  In the first 13 seconds of the contest, Cobra RB John Nyondweh took the opening kickoff from his own 10-yard line and ran up the far sideline 90 yards to the end zone to open the scoring festivities in the first quarter.  After a Brady Young extra point, the Cobras took a 7-0 lead.

 

Next, the Avalanche offense would take the field for the first time in 2016.  The team’s first three plays resulted in negative yardage and ended in a turnover as Avalanche QB Brandon McBride fumbled the ball on his own 19-yard line that was then recovered by Cobra LB Chris Baker to put the Cobra offense back in action.

 

The Cobra offense took immediate advantage of the turnover with four successful plays that would eventually put the team in the end zone.  Cobra QB Ryan Workman completed his first pass to Ladale Jackson for 5 yards which was then succeeded by a run of 6 yards by RB Weston Miller and runs of 1 and 6 yards by RB John Nyondweh.  The 6 yard run resulted in the team’s second touchdown of the day.  Young’s extra point would put the Cobras ahead, 14-0, with 8:13 to go in the first quarter.

 

On the next drive, the Avalanche offense was able to produce positive yardage for the first time on the day with a 7 yard run by RB David Weinmeister on the second offensive play of the drive.  However, on the following play, the Avalanche would commit yet another miscue on the day as McBride would throw an errant pass over the middle to Cobra S Ryan Birrenkott.  The interception would set the Cobra offense on the right side of the 50 and a chance to extend their lead.

 

Once again, the Cobras were able to take advantage of the turnover opportunity.  In five plays, the Cobra offense found pay dirt.  Workman’s 22 yard run on fourth down preserved the drive at the 7-yard line.  He would then connect with Ladale Jackson for the score.  Young’s extra point put the Cobras up 21-0 mid-way through the first quarter.

 

The Avalanche were able to move the ball on the ensuing drive, as QB Brandon McBride would connect with his brother, WR Jeff McBride, for 8 yards and the team’s first-first down on the day.  Two plays later, however, the Avalanche would turn the ball over once again.  McBride attempted to fake the exchange to WR Patrick Franqui when the ball came loose and was quickly recovered by DL Louie Fernandez of the Cobras.

 

Big Sky’s defense was able to create a stop against the Cobra offense on the following drive, who had positive field position for the entire day up to this point.  The Avalanche held the Cobras to -2 yards on the drive following Fernandez’s fumble recovery and resulted in a Young field goal attempt.  Avalanche DE James DeCoteau and others were able to break through the middle and block the attempt to add momentum for the offense to work with.

 

The first quarter ended with utter disappointment for the Avalanche as they were unable to produce consistency or sustain drives without committing turnovers, and the team trailed by three possessions.  On the team’s next drive, their offense was then able to move the ball with their second first down on the day.  It was another McBride to McBride connection for 12 yards, which was then succeeded by three plays that resulted in zero yards and a David Nelson punt to give the ball back to the Cobras.

 

Utah’s next possession resulted in their first punt of the day, as the offense committed two false start penalties and a total of -1 yard.  Young’s punt placed the Avalanche near midfield and a chance to get on the board for the first time.  The ensuing Avalanche drive nearly ended after three plays when McBride connected with Franqui on a 13-yard pass to keep the drive alive.  McBride then connected with RB James King for an 8 yard gain.  On the next play, McBride attempted to find his target downfield when the pursuit from LB Jeremy Covington on the backside left the Avalanche with an 8 yard loss and a Nelson punt once more.

 

Workman made the Avalanche defense pay on the next Cobra drive.  First, he would find his way downfield on a 14 yard scamper past the chains.  Then, on the next play, he found a wide-open Ladale Jackson for the 66-yard touchdown.  Following another Young extra point, the Cobras increased their lead 28-0 with 4:16 left in the half.

For the next Avalanche drive, McBride would lead the offense downfield in an attempt to get points before halftime.  On 3rd and 6, McBride would pick up the difference with a completed pass to Franqui for 11 yards and a first down.  The next first down came on a 4th down conversion, as McBride rushed up the middle past the markers.  It was then that the drive would stall after two incompletions and a Brandon Martinez sack on McBride, setting up another Nelson punt to end the half.

 

The second half was more eventful for the Avalanche and featured much of the same success for the Cobras.  On the team’s first possession of the second half, the Cobras sustained a successful drive to the end zone.  The Cobras were able to convert on two 4th down attempts, the first on a 10 yard completion from Workman to WR Illiott Alexander and the next on a 3 yard run past the line by Miller.  Following Miller’s run on 4th down, Workman connected with TE Matt Harris for a 19 yard gain to set the Cobras up at the 2-yard line, which then resulted in a Miller run into the end zone.  Young’s fifth and final extra point would put the Cobras ahead, 35-0, with 3:34 in the 3rd quarter.

 

However, on the next Cobra drive, the team would commit its first turnover.  Workman took the snap in search of an open receiver.  The ball slipped from his grasp and was recovered by David Nelson of the Avalanche, who then proceeded to advance the ball from the 50-yard line to  the goal line for the team’s first and only score of the day.  Following a Nick Alamia extra point, the Avalanche reduced the deficit slightly, 35-7.

 

The final points of the game came on the ensuing Cobra drive.  Brad Thurber was placed in at the quarterback position for the Cobras, as he aided the team on a 7-play, 35 yard drive that resulted in a 33-yard field goal by Young to put the Cobras ahead, 38-7, with 7:09 left in the game.  The game then ended after three more possessions, two of which were carried out by the Avalanche to try for points and generate any momentum for next week.  Utah committed its second turnover on the team’s final drive, as Nyondweh fumbled the exchange, which was then recovered by DE Ansel Traynor to set up the final drive for the Avalanche offense that resulted in negative yardage and a failed 4th down attempt.

 

The offensive leader for the Cobras was QB Ryan Workman, who completed 8 of 12 passes for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns, as well as 46 rushing yards on 4 attempts.  Workman targeted TE Matt Harris 4 times for 34 yards and had success in throwing to WR Ladale Jackson, who caught 2 passes for 73 yards and 2 touchdowns.  On defense, DE Ryan Tumanuvao helped lead the way with 6.5 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and 2 sacks against the Avalanche offense.  S Ryan Birrenkott would also have success in intercepting a pass from scrimmage along with 3.5 tackles.  The entire Cobra defense deserves recognition for their performance as they held the Avalanche offense to 105 total yards, only 44 of those were through the air to credit the secondary.

 

For the Avalanche, the offense was led by RB David Weinmeister with 41 yards on 9 carries and WR Patrick Franqui who snagged in 2 passes for 23 yards.  Defensively, the Avalanche were aided by LB Zach Thompson with 4.5 tackles and LB Weslee Kidd with 4.5 tackles as well.  LB Brandon Genthe, DE Josh Wallis, and CB Buddy Newville each had 4 tackles apiece to finish the day.

 

Next week, the Utah Cobras will face the Wyoming Outlaws in their home opener at Pleasant Grove High School in Utah.  The Big Sky Avalanche will stay at home in Boulder to face an in-state rival in the Flathead Monsters at Jefferson High School.