East Prevails In 3 Overtimes at Natrona [VIDEO]

Highlights of the Friday, September 6th, 4A football game, between #3 Cheyenne East at #1 Natrona.

You've heard that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Now if you give him a cymbal...well...I'll let you figure that one out.

#3 Cheyenne East at #1 Natrona...first quarter...Natrona wearing the orange...and trespassing in enemy territory...Jacob Bobenmoyer is going to bust through and introduce Sam Turner to the ground. That took care of that problem for the time being and we're just getting started.

Now the Thunderbirds are the ones trespassing...Tevis Bartlett puts a stiff arm on Josh Harshman...but he can't shake Tristin Cloward, who will knock the ball loose. Harshman comes up with the recovery and the defending 4A state champs were back in business with about half of a field to work with. No score after the first 12 minutes.

2nd quarter...N-C would cash in on the turnover...4th and goal at the 1...Brad Gillis would break through...he's in that pile somewhere, but he made it...it's a touchdown...and the home team is up 7-nothing.

Later...the Mustangs were at it again...this is Stevann Brown...a junior...he'll shake one tackler...but he forgot that Bartlett is also a wrestler...loose ball...Cameron Johnson will recover for the visitors and take it back to about the 40. Now his team can set up shop and maybe get some points of their own.

They would drive...Bartlett will roll to his right...he sees someone from 10 yards away...that someone was his favorite target...Johnson...the 2 of them like that side of the end zone as you will see later on...PAT no good...T-Birds trail 7-to-6.

Turnovers were a factor in this game on both sides...this pass was not the best thrown by Turner and it was not really that close to the intended target...Brian Lopez gets himself an easy pic...and East had a chance to grab the lead with a little bit of time remaining before the half.

However it was not meant to be...at least for now...Bartlett thought his receiver had the inside lane...and he was wrong...Harshman had himself a great game defensively...the fumble recovery earlier...now this interception...as Natrona would maintain their 7-6 advantage going into the locker room.

3rd quarter...sometimes you got to roll the dice and say to heck with it...make it all or nothing...Turner is going to take that gamble and hit the jackpot with Cloward...76 yards...the orange and black with a great attack and it paid off with points...they now lead 14-to-6.

East had an answer, but this time, they kept it on the ground...Clinton Jaure busts through...jukes one would-be tackler and he's going full throttle for 30 yards and a score...plus the 2 point conversion...and this game is knotted up at 14-all.

Back and forth this game went...the Mustangs are now back on offense...Turner...looking...scrambles...still looking...fires...wrong guy...Johnson again...he was outstanding on both sides of the ball. Now the visitors have a shot to take the lead.

But the fates were not kind...on the next play...Jaure tries to bust through...and he forgot something...Harshman with another recovery...we're tied on the scoreboard...and we're tied in turnovers as well...3 each.

Now going the other way...Brown is trying to redeem himself for the Mustangs...he may be small, but he's got some speed as he'll weave his way in and out of traffic and go 32 yards to the promised land...he had around 175 yards in the game...N-C has reclaimed the advantage...they're back up 21-to-14.

The Thunderbirds would try to strike back...Bartlett...quick pass and he finds Harshman again! I wonder if Bartlett was having problems because Harshman is wearing the same jersey number? The score would remain 21-to-14, going into the final 12 minutes.

4th quarter...this play was critical...Natrona was going for the kill...but they fumbled at the East 2 yard line with 5 minutes to go...and the T-Birds would make them pay...Bartlett to Johnson...the latter makes the catch...slips one tackle...out-maneuvers another...and he...is...gone...78 yards...we have a ball game here folks...and it's dead-even again at 21-all.

The visitors would get the ball back with about 1 minute to go...and gave it another shot...Bartlett wants to go deep again...and that was not a good idea...Chase Anderson winds up with the ball. They had 6 turn-overs on the game...but the clock eventually ran out and we do not have a winner...so they kept playing.

Now in overtime...each team gets the ball at the 10...East went first...and needed only one play...we've seen this one before...Bartlett...Johnson...score...that's their bread and butter...the Thunderbirds now lead 28-21.

Natrona has to respond...it took 3 plays, but Gillis would put his head down...kept his feet moving...and the second effort got him in...Mustangs score...plus 1...the scoreboard reads 28-28.

Now in the 2nd overtime...we've changed ends of the field...N-C ball...Gillis again on a 1 yard plunge...his third score of the game...the orange and black is back up, 35-28.

But the opposition had to have a turn...Bartlett is going to do it himself, to makeup for all of those interceptions earlier...3 yards...6 points...plus the P-A-T...let's do it again...now it's 35-35.

In the 3rd overtime...T-bird ball first...I think you know what's coming...one more time...Bartlett to Johnson...the ref said the ball was secured before it came back over the goal line...that's a touchdown...visitors lead 42-35.

Now the home team gets a chance...Turner...calls his own number...3 yards and a score...the see-saw has been going back and forth...it's just a question of which team will make a big play...or a big mistake.

That question was answered on the point after try...bobbled snap...Natrona had to scramble...the 2 point pass is overthrown and is no good...East would go blow for blow with the defending 4A state champs...and after 3 overtimes...the Thunderbirds would come out on top...with a 42-41 road win.